Efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitors for anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity: a meta-analysis in cancer patients.

Aim: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) lower anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar were searched until September 2023 for studies regarding SGLT2i for treating anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. Overall mortality and cardiovascular events were considered. Using a random-effects model, data pooled RR and HR at a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: 3 cohort studies were identified, analyzing 2817 patients. Results display a significant reduction in overall mortality [RR = 0.52 (0.33-0.82); p = 0.005; I2= 32%], HF hospitalization [RR = 0.20 (0.04-1.02); p = 0.05; I2= 0%] and no significant reduction in HF incidence [RR = 0.50 (0.20-1.16); p = 0.11, I2= 0%]. Conclusion: SGLT2i mitigates mortality and hospitalization due to heart failure, improving cancer patient's chances of survival by undergoing anthracycline treatment.

What is this article about? This article explores the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) as a solution for reducing anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. Anthracycline is an established subclass of chemotherapeutic drugs which has been known to cause harm to the heart. The study, conducted a systematic search of PubMed and Google Scholar up until September 2023, assessing the effects of SGLT2i on overall mortality and cardiovascular events in cancer patients, regardless of the presence or absence of diabetes mellitus and the effectiveness of SGLT2i as a cardiotoxic therapy in cancer patients.What were the results? The analysis of studies involving 2817 patients showed findings indicating that giving SGLT2i could lower the chances of anthracycline-induced heart problems in cancer patients undergoing treatment. The findings showed a striking decrease in hospitalization due to heart failure and overall mortality whereas the findings for the effect of SGLT2i on incidence of heart failure were insignificant. The encouraging outcomes offer valuable insights that could help enhance the outlook and chances of survival for individuals with cancer.What do the results of the study mean? These findings indicate that SGLT2i notably reduces the risk of death and cardiovascular issues, like being hospitalized due to heart failure, in cancer patients undergoing anthracycline treatment. This has significant implications for how doctors might treat cancer patients in practice. Including SGLT2i in the treatment plan could improve the survival prospects of these patients, offering a promising advancement in handling anthracycline-induced heart issues with side effects that can be managed.

Metastatic Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Colon: A Case Report.

Colorectal neuroendocrine tumors are rare entities, with large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas occurring less frequently. We report a case of an 83-year-old male who presented with symptoms of intestinal obstruction. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis revealed a high-grade large bowel obstruction secondary to an irregular exophytic soft tissue mass within the ascending colon, with extensive metastatic disease. He subsequently underwent a right hemicolectomy. Histologic evaluation revealed large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the colon. Standardized treatment modalities have not been established; however, chemotherapy is often used as the first-line or adjuvant therapy with surgery. Unfortunately, our patient succumbed to postoperative complications on day 30 of the hospital stay.

Clinical judgement in chest pain: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac stress testing is a validated diagnostic tool to assess symptomatic patients with intermediate pretest probability of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, in some cases, the cardiac stress test may provide inconclusive results and the decision for further workup typically depends on the clinical judgement of the physician. These decisions can greatly affect patient outcomes. CASE PRESENTATION: We present an interesting case of a 54-year-old Caucasian male with history of tobacco use and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) who presented with atypical chest pain. He had an asymptomatic electrocardiogram (EKG) stress test with intermediate probability of ischemia. Further workup with coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and cardiac catheterization revealed multivessel CAD requiring a bypass surgery. In this case, the patient only had a history of tobacco use but no other significant comorbidities. He was clinically stable during his hospital stay and his testing was anticipated to be negative. However to complete workup, cardiology recommended anatomical testing with CCTA given the indeterminate EKG stress test results but the results of significant stenosis were surprising with the patient eventually requiring coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). CONCLUSION: As a result of the availability of multiple noninvasive diagnostic tests with almost similar sensitivities for CAD, physicians often face this dilemma of choosing the right test for optimal evaluation of chest pain in patients with intermediate pretest probability of CAD. Optimal test selection requires an individualized patient approach. Our experience with this case emphasizes the role of history taking, clinical judgement, and the risk/benefit ratio in deciding further workup when faced with inconclusive stress test results. Physicians should have a lower threshold for further workup of patients with inconclusive or even negative stress test results because of the diagnostic limitations of the test. Instead, utilizing a different, anatomical test may be more valuable. Specifically, the case established the usefulness of CCTA in cases such as this where other CAD diagnostic testing is indeterminate.

Clinical Course of COVID-19 in Identical Twins.

The rapid outbreak of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to infection with variable clinical presentations and a wide clinical spectrum. The disease was first reported in Wuhan, China in 2019 and has rapidly spread worldwide. Despite reports of dynamic changes in disease progression, clinical predictors of disease severity have been difficult to identify. The following case describing identical twins with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 who had very different disease courses. These patients resided in the same home and shared many of the same comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and morbid obesity. Although twin 1 had higher inflammatory markers, white blood cell (WBC) and an arguably more complicated medical history in comparison to their identical twin, the patient experienced a milder and shorter disease course. This case highlights the need for identifying proper disease markers and predictors early in the clinical course in order to direct future management guidelines and timely treatment.

Improving the use of intravenous antihypertensive medications in the hospital setting: a quality improvement initiative for patient safety.

Intravenous (IV) hydralazine, enalapril and labetalol are oftentimes used without indication for the treatment of asymptomatic hypertension in the hospital setting and have been shown to have substantial adverse effects that are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, as well as longer length of stay. Their use is also associated with greater monetary costs. In this project, we studied the frequency of use and consequences of these medications before and after a series of education cycles which clarified when and when not to use intravenous antihypertensives (IVAHs). Our initial aim was to decrease the unindicated use of IVAH by at least 25% in the setting of asymptomatic hypertension in our community hospital within a 1-year period after introducing education on the topic. Multidisciplinary involvement throughout three Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles yielded favourable results. We focused on education towards a hospital-wide knowledge gap stemming from a lack of guidelines regarding the treatment of asymptomatic hypertension, as well as the guideline indications for IVAH. After three cycles of education targeting different groups, the unindicated use of IVAH fell by a total of 66%, decreasing patient exposure by approximately 248 cases over the total course of the study and ultimately, yielding a 52% increase in patient safety. Secondary outcome included a reduction in cost. It was noted that IV drugs cost more than their oral counterparts. The culture change in switching away from IVAH unless otherwise indicated was driven by repetitive education and group discussion to close the gap created by a lack of guidelines.

Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid-induced pancreatitis: case report.

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis is an acute inflammation of the pancreas that varies in severity from mild to life threatening usually requiring hospitalization. The true incidence of drug-induced pancreatitis (DIP) is indeterminate due to the inadequate documentation of case reports of DIP. Here we present the case of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid-induced pancreatitis in a previously healthy male after excluding all other causes of pancreatitis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 58-year-old Caucasian man presenting for acute sharp abdominal pain with associated nausea and heaves. Pain was non-radiating and worsening with movement. Patient had no constitutional symptoms. The only medication he received prior to presentation was amoxicillin/clavulanic acid as prophylaxis for a dental procedure with his symptoms starting on day 9th of therapy. Laboratory studies revealed mild leukocytosis, increased levels of serum lipase, amylase, and C-reactive protein (CRP). Abdominal computed tomography (CT) was notable for acute pancreatitis with no pseudocyst formation. Hence, patient was diagnosed with mild acute pancreatitis that was treated with aggressive intravenous (IV) hydration and pain management with bowel rest of 2 days duration and significant improvement being noticed within 72 h. On further questioning, patient recalled that several years ago he had similar abdominal pain that developed after taking amoxicillin/clavulanic acid but did not seek medical attention at that time and the pain resolved within few days while abstaining from food intake. All other causes of pancreatitis were ruled out in this patient who is non-alcoholic, non-smoker, and never had gallstones. Abdominal ultrasound and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) eliminated out the possibility of gallstones, biliary ductal dilatation, or choledocholithiasis. Patient had no hypertriglyceridemia nor hypercalcemia, never had endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), never took steroids, has no known malignancy, infection, trauma, or exposure to scorpions. CONCLUSION: This case describes a patient with DIP after the intake of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and when all other common causes of acute pancreatitis were excluded. Only two other case reports were available through literature review regarding amoxicillin/clavulanic acid- induced pancreatitis. We again stress on the importance of identifying and reporting cases of DIP to raise awareness among physicians and clinicians.