The link between carotid artery stenosis and outcomes in patients with refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND: Mortality of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains high. Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) has revolutionized OHCA treatment, but our understanding of the ECPR responder's clinical profile is incomplete. Carotid artery stenosis (CAS) is a well-established cardiovascular disease risk factor. The impact of CAS on OHCA outcomes remains unelucidated. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether CAS burden affects the outcomes of OHCA patients treated with ECPR. METHODS: This study included patients with OHCA admitted for ECPR consideration, who had carotid ultrasonography performed. A numeric scale was applied to the plaque to create a CAS burden numeric scale. The primary outcome of the study was survival at discharge, compared among the different degrees of CAS. Neurologically intact survival and surrogate markers of neurologic injury were the secondary study endpoints. To assess the independent effect of CAS burden on survival to hospital discharge, we conducted a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Between 2019 and 2023, carotid ultrasonography was performed on 163 patients who were admitted for refractory OHCA. CAS burden was equally distributed between the right and left carotid arteries. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the CAS burden was significantly associated with both overall and neurologically intact survival at discharge (p = 0.004). A linear relationship between the CAS burden and neuron-specific and S-100 levels was identified. Patients with normal carotids were significantly less likely to have encephalopathy on electroencephalograms. CONCLUSION: CAS burden independently predicts the risk for worse survival and neurologic outcomes in patients suffering refractory OHCA who are treated with ECPR.

[Improving vital organs perfusion by the respiratory pump: physiology and clinical use]. / Amélioration de la perfusion des organes vitaux par la valve d'impédance inspiratoire et le concept de pompe respiratoire : rationnel physiologique et application clinique.

OBJECTIVE: In this article, we review the effects of the respiratory pump to improve vital organ perfusion by the use of an inspiratory threshold device. DATA SOURCES: Medline and MeSH database. STUDY SELECTION: All papers with a level of proof of I to III have been used. DATA EXTRACTION: The analysis of the papers has focused on the physiological modifications induced by intrathoracic pressure regulation. DATA SYNTHESIS: Primary function of breathing is to provide gas exchange. Studies of the mechanisms involved in animals and humans provide the physiological underpinnings for "the other side of breathing": to increase circulation to the heart and brain. We describe studies that focus on the fundamental relationship between the generation of negative intrathoracic pressure during inspiration through a low-level of resistance created by an impedance threshold device and the physiologic effects of a respiratory pump. A decrease in intrathoracic pressure during inspiration through a fixed resistance resulting in an intrathoracic pressure of -7 cmH2O has multiple physiological benefits including: enhanced venous return, cardiac stroke volume and aortic blood pressure; lower intracranial pressure; resetting of the cardiac baroreflex; elevated cerebral blood flow oscillations and increased tissue blood flow/pressure gradient. CONCLUSION: The clinical and animal studies support the use of the intrathoracic pump to treat different clinical conditions: hemorrhagic shock, orthostatic hypotension, septic shock, and cardiac arrest.

Is beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin production by transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder a marker of aggressive disease and resistance to radiotherapy?

The biopsies from 75 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (25 Ta-T1; 45 T2-T4, 5M) were studied immunohistochemically for the expression of beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-HCG). Only 5 Ta-T1 tumours contained a small number of beta-HCG positive cells but 24 invasive tumours and all patients with metastases showed increased numbers of positive cells. A significant correlation was found between beta-HCG immunoreactivity and tumour category. In 30 patients with muscle-invasive disease (T2-T4,N0,M0) who were treated with radical radiotherapy a significant correlation was observed between response to treatment and beta-HCG expression; beta-HCG positive tumours did not respond to treatment. A difference in survival was found between patients with tumours negative for beta-HCG compared with patients with positive tumours, all treated with radical radiotherapy. The results indicate that beta-HCG expression increases with tumour invasiveness and the use of immunohistochemistry may prove a useful means of identifying radioresistant and aggressive forms of bladder cancer.

Conjunctival epithelial cells from patients with Sjögren's syndrome inappropriately express major histocompatibility complex molecules, La(SSB) antigen, and heat-shock proteins.

The La(SSB) antigen has been detected within the cytoplasm and on the membrane of conjunctival cells (CC) from patients with Sjögren's syndrome, whereas it was weakly expressed in the nucleus of normal cells. The diseased CC were shown to overproduce major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigens and express MHC class II antigens. Anti-heat-shock protein monoclonal antibody bound to the cell membrane in patients but not in normal controls.

Cecal volvulus following cesarean section.

Cecal volvulus following cesarean section is rare, with only 10 previous cases reported in the literature. Because of a rising cesarean section rate and the serious morbidity and mortality frequently associated with cecal volvulus, it is important for every practicing obstetrician to be aware of this complication.

Malignant struma ovarii.

A rare case of malignant struma ovarii is presented. The tumor was excised together with the ovary and interpreted as a papillary strumal adenocarcinoma arising in a cystic teratoma with predominant thyroid elements. Prior to surgery the patient did not show any symptoms of thyroid hyperfunction. The thyroid function tests performed subsequent to surgery were within normal limits. Periodic examinations of the patient over a period of three years did not reveal any abnormalities. Statistically, this type of malignancy carries a good prognosis with a high "cure" rate.