In cancer survivors, cardiac dysfunction is the main cause of mortality. Cardiotoxicity represents a decline in cardiac function associated with cancer therapy, and the risk factors include smoking, ...dyslipidemia, an age of over 60 years, obesity, and a history of coronary artery disease, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, or heart failure. Troponin is a biomarker that is widely used in the detection of acute coronary syndromes. It has a high specificity, although it is not exclusively associated with myocardial ischemia. The aim of this paper is to summarize published studies and to establish the role of troponin assays in the diagnosis of cardiotoxicity associated with various chemotherapeutic agents. Troponin has been shown to be a significant biomarker in the diagnosis of the cardiac dysfunction associated with several types of chemotherapeutic drugs: anthracyclines, anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 treatment, and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy. Based on the data available at this moment, troponin is useful for baseline risk assessment, the diagnosis of cardiotoxicity, and as a guide for the initiation of cardioprotective treatment. There are currently clear regulations regarding the timing of troponin surveillance depending on the patient’s risk of cardiotoxicity and the type of medication administered, but data on the cut-off values of this biomarker are still under investigation.
Hyponatremia is commonly encountered in the setting of heart failure, especially in decompensated, fluid-overloaded patients. The pathophysiology of hyponatremia in patients with heart failure is ...complex, including numerous mechanisms: increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, high levels of arginine vasopressin and diuretic use. Symptoms are usually mild but hyponatremic encephalopathy can occur if there is an acute decrease in serum sodium levels. It is crucial to differentiate between dilutional hyponatremia, where free water excretion should be promoted, and depletional hyponatremia, where administration of saline is needed. An inappropriate correction of hyponatremia may lead to osmotic demyelination syndrome which can cause severe neurological symptoms. Treatment options for hyponatremia in heart failure, such as water restriction or the use of hypertonic saline with loop diuretics, have limited efficacy. The aim of this review is to summarize the principal mechanisms involved in the occurrence of hyponatremia, to present the main guidelines for the treatment of hyponatremia, and to collect and analyze data from studies which target new treatment options, such as vaptans.
Objective
This study was performed to determine whether a dual-biomarker approach using N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and galectin-3 optimizes the diagnosis and risk ...stratification of acute cardiac dyspnea. Atypical clinical manifestations and overlapping pathologies require objective and effective diagnostic methods to avoid treatment delays.
Methods
This prospective observational study included 208 patients who presented to the emergency department for acute dyspnea. NT-proBNP and galectin-3 were measured upon admission. The patients were divided into two groups according to the etiology of their clinical manifestations: cardiac and non-cardiac dyspnea. The patients’ New York Heart Association functional class, left ventricular ejection fraction, and discharge status were assessed.
Results
Diagnostic criteria for acute heart failure were fulfilled in 61.1% of the patients. NT-proBNP and galectin-3 were strongly and significantly correlated. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed similar areas under the curve for both markers in the entire group of patients as well as in the high-risk subsets of patients.
Conclusions
The diagnostic performance of NT-proBNP and galectin-3 is comparable for both the total population and high-risk subsets. Galectin-3 adds diagnostic value to the conventional NT-proBNP in patients with acute cardiac dyspnea, and its utility is of major interest in uncertain clinical situations.
Background: Biomarkers were correlated with mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients. No prediction tools exist for noncritically ill COVID-19 patients. We aimed to compare the independent ...prognostic value of inflammation and cardiac biomarkers for post-acute COVID-19 patients and the 30-day mortality rate in noncritically ill COVID-19 patients, as well as the relation with the virus variant involved. Methods: This observational cohort study was conducted at an emergency clinical hospital between 1 October 2020 and 31 December 2021. We included consecutive patients with biomarkers determined within 24 h of presentation, followed up at least 30 days postdischarge. Results: Post-acute COVID-19 was diagnosed in 20.3% of the cases and the all-cause 30-day mortality rate was 35.1% among 978 patients infected with variants of concern. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (1.06 95%CI, 1.01–1.11, p = 0.015) and NT-pro BNP were correlated with 30-daymortality, while the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (2.77 95%CI, 1.10–6.94, p = 0.03) and NT-pro BNP (1.68 95%CI, 1.00–2.84, p = 0.05) were correlated with post-acute COVID-19. High-sensitivity to troponin was associated with 30-day mortality (1.55 95%CI, 1.00–2.42, p = 0.05). A Cox proportional-hazards model confirmed that NT-pro BNP was independently associated with mortality. NT-pro BNP remained independently associated with 30-day mortality during follow-up (1.29 95%CI, 1.07–1.56, p = 0.007) after adjustment for confounders. Conclusion: Inflammation and cardiac biomarkers, determined upon admission and predischarge, in a cohort of hospitalized noncritically ill COVID-19 patients throughout successive pandemic waves, showed a predictive value for post-acute COVID-19 and 30-day mortality.
Chronic pruritus is a major and distressing symptom of many diseases of dermatological, neurological, psychogenic or systemic origin. This chronic itch could be a presenting sign of malignancy; ...therefore, paraneoplastic pruritus has also been associated with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). This article focuses on a patient presenting with chronic pruritus for the past 12 months and who received numerous treatment schemes with very poor clinical improvement, that presented in the hospital for worsening of the chronic pruritus associated with skin rash and significant weight loss (approximately 6 kg over a 2-month period). The laboratory tests showed iron deficiency anemia, eosinophilia and negative tumor markers. In order to investigate the hypoanabolic and anemic syndromes, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy, which showed no lesions or tumors, were employed. Skin biopsy was performed and antihistaminic and local steroid treatment was initiated. The patient's status worsened within a week and the patient was started on systemic steroid treatment with poor results. Computer tomography was performed to identify any tumor(s) located either in the pelvis or abdomen. A lesion was found in the terminal ileum, identified as a hypervascularized associating bulky lymphadenopathy. The patient was transferred to the surgical ward where right hemicolectomy with manual ileotransverse anastomosis L-L was performed. The histopathological result confirmed NET G2. The patient clinically improved, the skin lesions resolved and the itchiness disappeared. The general status improved significantly. NET G2 diagnosing was possible due to the atypic paraneoplastic sign: chronic pruritus. This case study highlights the association between itch and malignancy and presents an atypical way of NET presentation when all tumor markers remain negative.
Despite being one of the most debilitating conditions encountered in the field of toxicology, there is a lack of neutralization measures for the toxins involved in acute corrosive poisoning, and this ...promotes progressive contact injury of deep tissues after poisoning has occurred. Multiple controversies still surround management strategies during the acute phase of poisoning and the long-term follow-up of the patient. Here, we report a severe case of intentional poisoning with nitric acid complicated by extensive injury of the upper digestive tract, multiple stricture formation, and complete dysphagia. Serial endoscopic dilation and insertion of a jejunostomy feeding tube were necessary, and underlying psychiatric illness negatively affected the outcome of the patient. We conclude that an interdisciplinary approach is necessary to properly reduce the extent of lesions and sequelae induced by corrosion. Early endoscopic mapping of injuries is of major importance to better predict the evolution and possible complications of poisoning. Interventional and reconstructive surgical procedures may significantly improve the life expectancy and quality of life of patients following intoxication with corrosive substances.
Background: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has put a constant strain on hospital resources, so there is a dire need for investigation methods that are widely available and that can predict mortality ...and the need for critical care. Hematological indices, which can be easily calculated from a complete blood count (CBC), are useful in determining a patient’s inflammatory response to infectious diseases. Aim: This was a prospective cohort study that aimed to assess the prognostic value of scores based on CBCs in hospitalized patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 and medical comorbidities regarding the need for intensive care unit (ICU) therapy and short-term mortality. Methods: We included 607 patients with confirmed COVID-19, followed up for the need for ICU admission (15.5%) and 30 day mortality post-discharge (21.7%). CBC-derived scores were tested upon emergency department (ED) admission and after a median of 8 days. Results: In a multivariate model, elevated followed-up neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) predicted increased odds for ICU admission (OR: 1.14 95%CI: 1.06−1.22, p < 0.001) and short-term mortality (OR: 1.30 95%CI: 1.09−1.57, p = 0.005). Monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) predicted 2.5-fold increased odds for ICU admission and 2.2-fold increased odds for mortality. Conclusion: NLR and MLR followed up 8 days post-admission are predictive for adverse outcomes in mild or moderate COVID-19 patients.
Infective endocarditis is a severe infective heart disease, commonly involving native or prosthetic valves. It frequently presents with univalvular involvement and simultaneous double valve or ...multivalvular involvement is rarely described. The third leading cause of infective endocarditis worldwide is
, which is associated with high mortality rates despite important advances in antimicrobial therapy. It develops secondary to enterococcal bacteremia, with its origin from the gastrointestinal or genitourinary tract and predominantly affecting the elderly population with multiple comorbidities. Clinical presentation is usually less typical, and the treatment is challenging. It can be marked by antibiotic resistance, side effects, and subsequent complications. Surgical treatment can be considered if deemed appropriate. To the best of our knowledge, we present the first case-based narrative review of
double valve endocarditis involving both the aortic native and prosthetic mitral valve, highlighting the clinical characteristics, treatment, and complications of this condition.
: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, patients with chronic diseases suffering exacerbations have required acute medical care. The purpose of our study was to determine useful ...criteria for the differentiation of patients with acute clinical syndromes and suspicion of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.
: This was an observational retrospective study, conducted in an internal medicine clinic from April to May 2020. We collected clinical, biological, and computed tomography (CT) data on patients with exacerbations of chronic diseases and clinical suspicion of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients with an already-positive real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for SARS-CoV-2 on presentation at the emergency department were excluded from our study.
: Of 253 suspected cases, 20 were laboratory-confirmed as having SARS-CoV-2 infection by RT-PCR, whereas COVID-19 diagnosis was ruled out in the remaining 233. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) correlated significantly with COVID-19 diagnosis in suspected patients, while laboratory markers were not significantly different between the two groups. Of the suspected patients, significantly higher percentages of dry cough, fever, myalgias, sore throat, loss of smell and appetite, and ground-glass opacities (GGOs) on CT were found in SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals.
: The study demonstrated that, until receiving the result of an RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 (usually 12-24 h), association with VTE as a comorbidity, fever, dry cough, and myalgia as clinical features, and GGO on CT are the main markers for the identification of COVID-19 patients among those suspected with acute clinical syndromes. Our results also provide evidence for doctors not to rely solely on biological markers in the case of suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with exacerbations of chronic diseases. These data are useful for faster decision-making with regard to suspected COVID-19 patients before receiving RT-PCR test results, thus avoiding keeping patients in crowded emergency departments.
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