Objectives
This study aimed to directly measure pH in the lungs, determine lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), and glucose levels in serum and bronchoalveolar aspirate, and ...identify bacterial pathogens from bronchoalveolar fluid during acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).
Methods
We performed an observational, analytical case–control study from February 2015 to March 2017. We included 84 patients with AECOPD and 42 with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). All participants underwent detailed medical anamnesis, a clinical examination, chest radiography, spirometry, an arterial blood gas test, bronchoscopy, bacterial culture, and serum/bronchiolar aspirate laboratory testing.
Results
The mean pH of bronchoalveolar fluid was significantly higher in patients with AECOPD than in patients with stable COPD. The mean lung pH value, bronchoalveolar and serum LDH levels, and serum CRP levels in patients with isolated bacteria were higher than those in patients without isolated bacteria in the AECOPD patient group. Lung pH values in patients with AECOPD were significantly correlated with bronchoalveolar LDH and glucose levels.
Conclusions
AECOPD is associated with local cell and tissue injury in the lungs, especially in the presence of bacterial pathogens, which is accompanied by a low systemic inflammatory response.
There is limited data on the effect of sacubitril-valsartan on the echocardiographic parameters in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). We prospectively enrolled 68 consecutive patients with ...ADHF who received sacubitril-valsartan (
N
= 34, S/V group) or angiotensin inhibition-based therapy (
N
= 34, ACEi/ARB group). Two-dimensional echocardiography with speckle tracking (2D-STE) was performed at baseline and after 3 months of treatment. Changes in 2D-STE parameters, including global longitudinal strain (GLS), were compared between the groups by
t
test and ANCOVA. Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups. Following 3 months of treatment, LVEF and GLS significantly improved in the S/V group (mean LVEF from 27 to 34.5% and GLS from − 6.6 to − 9.4%) but not in ACEi/ARB group. The improvement in LVEF and GLS was more prominent in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. In patients with ADHF 3-month treatment with sacubitril-valsartan, compared to guideline directed medical therapy without sacubitril, improves LVEF and GLS.
Graphical Abstract
A typical change in GLS in a patient with acute decompensated heart failure after 3 months of sacubitril-valsartan
Summary
The presence of circulating gas bubbles and their influence on pulmonary and right heart hemodynamics was reported after uncomplicated self‐contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) ...dive(s). Improvements in cardiac imaging have recently focused great attention on the right ventricle (RV). The aim of our study was to evaluate possible effects of a single air SCUBA dive on RV function using 2D speckle tracking echocardiography in healthy divers after single open sea dive to 18 meters of seawater, followed by bottom stay of 47 minutes with a direct ascent to the surface. Twelve experienced male divers (age 39.5 ± 10.5 years) participated in the study. Echocardiographic assessment of the right ventricular function (free wall 2 D strain, tricuspid annular planes systolic excursion TAPSE, lateral tricuspid annular peak systolic velocity RV s` and fractional area change FAC) was performed directly prior to and 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after surfacing. Two‐dimensional strain of all three segments of free right ventricular wall showed a significant increase in longitudinal shortening in post‐dive period for maximally 26% (basal), 15.4% (mid) and 16.3% (apical) as well as TAPSE (11.6%), RV FAC (19.2%), RV S` (12.7%) suggesting a rise in systolic function of right heart. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mean PAP) increased post‐dive from 13.3 mmHg to maximally 23.5 mmHg (P = .002), indicating increased RV afterload. Our results demonstrated that single dive with significant bubble load lead to increase in systolic function and longitudinal strain of the right heart in parallel with increase in mean PAP.
The purpose of this study was 1) to answer whether the reduction in spleen size in breath-hold apnea is an active contraction or a passive collapse secondary to reduced splenic arterial blood flow ...and 2) to monitor the spleen response to repeated breath-hold apneas. Ten trained apnea divers and 10 intact and 7 splenectomized untrained persons repeated five maximal apneas (A1-A5) with face immersion in cold water, with 2 min interposed between successive attempts. Ultrasonic monitoring of the spleen and noninvasive cardiopulmonary measurements were performed before, between apneas, and at times 0, 10, 20, 40, and 60 min after the last apnea. Blood flows in splenic artery and splenic vein were not significantly affected by breath-hold apnea. The duration of apneas peaked after A3 (143, 127, and 74 s in apnea divers, intact, and splenectomized persons, respectively). A rapid decrease in spleen volume ( approximately 20% in both apnea divers and intact persons) was mainly completed throughout the first apnea. The spleen did not recover in size between apneas and only partly recovered 60 min after A5. The well-known physiological responses to apnea diving, i.e., bradycardia and increased blood pressure, were observed in A1 and remained unchanged throughout the following apneas. These results show rapid, probably active contraction of the spleen in response to breath-hold apnea in humans. Rapid spleen contraction and its slow recovery may contribute to prolongation of successive, briefly repeated apnea attempts.
Castleman's disease (in the literature also known as angiofollicular hyperplasia) is a rare benign lymphoproliferative disease. Clinically, it can manifest as unicentric or multicentric disease. ...Unicentric disease is most often diagnosed by accident or by symptomatology resulting from compression upon the adjoining anatomical structures. Considering its lymphatic origin, tumor mass can theoretically occur in any body region. We present a case of paracardiac localization of unicentric Castleman's disease in a previously healthy 24-year-old woman. In such clinical cases, the specific localization of the tumor and its radiological properties can pose a differential diagnostic dilemma. Correct diagnosis is only possible after complete surgical excision and histopathologic analysis, which is the optimal therapeutic approach in this disease.
Objective of this study was to assess platelet response to clopidogrel and its association with certain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the P2RY12 gene. Several studies have shown that ...patients with poor in vitro response to clopidogrel have worse outcomes after coronary interventions. Pharmacological response to clopidogrel is mediated by the P2Y12 platelet receptor, therefore, SNPs of the P2RY12 gene may account for some of the observed variability in the cardiovascular risk. Fifty patients with stable coronary heart disease, undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention were included in this study. Response to clopidogrel was analysed using light transmitted aggregometry before, and 5 days after the initation of therapy. SNPs analysed: c.-15+742C > T, c.-180+2739T > C and c.18C > T. A higher proportion of non-responders to clopidogrel were noted in carriers of 18C > TT/T (p = 0.05), and lower prevalence in carriers of 742C > TT/T (p = 0.05). Participants with 742C > TT/T had significantly higher change in aggregation compared to other 742C > T variants (C/C = 20.5 +/- 21.9%; C/T = 20.0 +/- 31.2%; T/T = 48.6 +/- 21.3%; p = 0.03). Those carrying 18C > TT/T had smaller change in aggregation (7.6 +/- 15.0%) compared to other variants, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.15). Analysis of variance showed 18C > TT/T was a statistically significant predictor of poor response to antiaggregation therapy, independent from other clinical and demographic variables. There was no relation between poor response to clopidogrel and any other genetic variant. Our results suggest that 18C > T SNP of the P2RY12 gene may be an independent predictor of pharmacological response to clopidogrel. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm this link and assess its possible clinical consequences.
There are conflicting reports in the literature regarding the role of sex on the in-hospital mortality of patients with acute myocardial infarction. The objective of this study is to determine ...whether there are gender differences in in-hospital mortality and angiographic findings of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We conducted a prospective study of all patients admitted to University Hospital Center Split, Croatia with STEMI from 2004 to 2008 who underwent PCI. From March 2004 throughout September 2008, 488 patients with STEMI underwent PCI (364 men, 74.6%; 124 women, 25.4%). Compared with men, women were significantly older (mean age, 67.3 vs. 60.3 years; p < 0.001). Men had a significantly higher proportion of circumflex artery occlusion (19.5% vs. 10.5%, p = 0.022). A higher proportion of men had a multivessel disease than women (56.8% vs. 41.9%; p = 0.004). In-hospital mortality was significantly higher among women (11.3% vs. 4.6%; p = 0.002) but after adjustment for the baseline difference in age, the female sex was not an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR 1.15; 95% CI 0.82-1.84). In men, occlusions of left anterior descending artery showed higher mortality rate than occlusions of other coronary arteries (LM 0%, LAD 7.3%, Cx 2.8%, RCA 0.7%, p = 0.03). According to our results female gender is not an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention. In men, occlusions of left anterior descending arteries are associated with higher mortality rate comparing to occlusions of other coronary arteries.
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