Nagapradeep Nagajothi

HIV Type 1 RNA Level as a Clinical Indicator of Renal Pathology in HIV-Infected Patients

To determine the value of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA level in distinguishing HIV-associated nephropathy from non-HIV-associated nephropathy renal pathological conditions, we retrospectively compared renal histopathological findings for 86 HIV-infected patients according to HIV-1 RNA levels. We found that HIV-associated nephropathy was unlikely among patients with HIV-1 RNA levels <400 copies/mL. Hypertensive vascular disease surpassed HIV-associated nephropathy as the most common renal pathological finding among the entire cohort. HIV-1 RNA level did not correlate with renal survival.

Stem cells improve left ventricular function in acute myocardial infarction.

Animal studies have suggested dramatic improvement in cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) through regeneration of the myocardium or neovascularization by transfer of cells derived from bone marrow (BMC) generated clinical studies. Recently published small sized studies have yielded mixed results, leaving the question unanswered.

Sonography as a Predictor of Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Associated Nephropathy

Objective. To determine whether renal sonography can be used to predict the pathologic diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus–associated nephropathy. Methods. This cross‐sectional study evaluated 87 human immunodeficiency virus–positive patients who underwent both kidney biopsy and renal sonography after referral to the Johns Hopkins Renal Clinic from January 1995 to July 2002. Using a standardized measure of echogenicity, an independent blinded radiologist reviewed the original sonographic images. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, receiver operating characteristic curves, and likelihood ratios were determined with the use of the biopsy pathologic report as the criterion standard. Results. Thirty‐four patients (39%) had biopsy‐proved human immunodeficiency virus–associated nephropathy. A higher serum creatinine level, greater proteinuria, and black race were associated with human immunodeficiency virus–associated nephropathy, whereas age, sex, hypertension, and diabetes were not. Sensitivity and specificity for the highest 2 levels of echogenicity were 96% and 51%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for the highest level of echogenicity were 40% and 95%. The likelihood ratio for the diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus–associated nephropathy on the basis of the highest echogenicity score was 7.4 (95% confidence interval, 1.3–73.0; P = .006). The likelihood ratio for the lowest 2 echogenicity scores was 0.08 (95% confidence interval, 0.002–0.57; P = 0.003). Kidney size was not associated with human immunodeficiency virus–associated nephropathy status. Conclusions. This study provides evidence that, among patients with human immunodeficiency virus and kidney disease, the highest and lowest levels of sonographic echogenicity have diagnostic value in respectively establishing or excluding human immunodeficiency virus–associated nephropathy.

Pioglitazone and the risk of myocardial infarction and other major adverse cardiac events: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials

A recent meta-analysis suggested that the use of rosiglitazone increases the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is unclear whether this is a class effect of thiazolidinediones (TZD). We did a meta-analysis to evaluate cardiovascular outcomes with the use of pioglitazone. Randomized, controlled trials in which pioglitazone was compared with placebo or other hypoglycemic agents were considered for analysis. Studies were included if the data for MI were available. Studies were identified with use of relevant search words in Medline, Pubmed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases. Data abstraction was done by 2 individual authors using a standardized protocol. The relative risk across all study groups was computed by the Mantel-Haenszel method, and interstudy heterogeneity was assessed by the χ2 method. All results were computed according to 95% confidence intervals. Five trials (N = 9965) met the inclusion criteria for analysis. The relative risk for MI was 0.86 (0.69-1.07; P = 0.17). The relative risks for stroke and revascularization were 0.79 (0.61-1.02; P = 0.07) and 0.40 (0.13-1.23; P = 0.11), respectively. Pioglitazone does not increase the risk for MI and may decrease the risk for stroke and revascularization.

Paradoxical bronchospasm : A potentially life threatening adverse effect of albuterol

We report a case of paradoxical bronchospasm to both levalbuterol and albuterol. While the exact mechanism for this known adverse effect of albuterol is not known, awareness of this adverse effect can be life saving to the patient. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of paradoxical bronchospasm to levalbuterol inhalation solution.

Left Ventricular End Diastolic Pressure and Serum Brain Natriuretic Peptide Levels in Patients with Abnormal Impedance Cardiography Parameters

BACKGROUND Distinct hemodynamic patterns determined by impedance cardiography (ICG) have been found to be superior to clinical assessment for the identification of patients at risk for heart failure decompensation in the outpatient setting. Correlation of these hemodynamic patterns with serum brain natriuretic peptides (BNP) and left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) has not been established. We evaluated the correlation of low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups for acute decompensation of heart failure (ADHF) as determined by ICG parameters with LVEDP and serum BNP. METHODS Consecutive patients referred for cardiac catheterization with echocardiographic diagnosis of left ventricle dysfunction (systolic or diastolic) or history of congestive heart failure (CHF) underwent ICG evaluation, serum BNP measurement, and LVEDP by cardiac catheterization. Three groups at different levels of risk for ADHF were determined according to ICG parameters: thoracic fluid content (TFC) and stroke volume index (SVI); low risk (low TFC, high SVI), intermediate risk (low-low or high-high TFC and SVI, respectively), and high risk (high TFC and low SVI). RESULTS Sixty three patients were included in the present study. Mean LVEDP and serum BNP levels were 20.2 +/- 8.2 mmHg and 814 +/- 1005 pg/mL, respectively, in the high-risk group in comparison to 12.3 +/- 6.2 mmHg and 53 +/- 38 pg/mL in the low-risk group (p = 0.01 and p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS Patients with ICG parameters that represent high risk for ADHF have higher levels of serum BNP and LVEDP in comparison with patients who have intermediate- or low-risk ICG parameters for ADHF.

Renal sympathetic nervous system and the effects of denervation on renal arteries

Resistant hypertension is associated with chronic activation of the sympathetic nervous system resulting in various comorbidities. The prevalence of resistant hypertension is often under estimated due to various reasons. Activation of sympathetic nervous system at the renal- as well as systemic- level contributes to the increased level of catecholamines and resulting increase in the blood pressure. This increased activity was demonstrated by increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity and renal and total body noradrenaline spillover. Apart from the hypertension, it is hypothesized to be associated with insulin resistance, congestive heart failure and obstructive sleep apnea. Renal denervation is a novel procedure where the sympathetic afferent and efferent activity is reduced by various techniques and has been used successfully to treat drug-resistant hypertension improvement of various metabolic derangements. Renal denervation has the unique advantage of offering the denervation at the renal level, thus mitigating the systemic side effects. Renal denervation can be done by various techniques including radiofrequency ablation, ultrasound guided ablation and chemical ablation. Various trials evaluated the role of renal denervation in the management of resistant hypertension and have found promising results. More studies are underway to evaluate the role of renal denervation in patients presenting with resistant hypertension in different scenarios. Appropriate patient selection might be the key in determining the effectiveness of the procedure.

STATIN THERAPY IS ASSOCIATED WITH DECREASED INCIDENCE OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION- A META ANALYSIS AND SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Statin therapies have shown to decrease the incidence of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) in patients with normal sinus rhythm due to its anti inflammatory properties. However some studies have shown no effect. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of statins on AF incidence. Clinical trials