Yogita Rochlani

Metabolic Syndrome: Does it Differ Between Women and Men?

Cardiovascular disease represents a massive healthcare burden worldwide. Gender differences in the pathophysiology, presentation and prognosis of cardiovascular disease have been described in the literature. Metabolic syndrome, characterized by a cluster of metabolic abnormalities is associated with increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. With the global obesity epidemic, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is rising rapidly in the developed as well as developing world. However, there is considerable variation in the prevalence based on geography, age, sex and, definition used for diagnosis. Data on gender related differences in metabolic syndrome is relatively scarce. Here, we aim to review the gender differences in epidemiology and pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome as well as its individual components. Knowledge of gender differences in metabolic syndrome can help design gender specific preventative and therapeutic strategies that will have a positive impact on overall population health.

U.S. Trends in Inpatient Utilization of Fractional Flow Reserve and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) of intermediate coronary stenosis is a highly accurate, reproducible, and cost-effective modality with powerful prognostic value. Results of the FAME (Fractional Flow Reserve versus Angiography for Multivessel Evaluation) [(1)][1] and FAME-2 trials [(2)][2] have shown a

Metabolic syndrome: pathophysiology, management, and modulation by natural compounds:

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that include hypertension, central obesity, insulin resistance, and atherogenic dyslipidemia, and is strongly associated with an increased risk for developing diabetes and atherosclerotic and nonatherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). The pathogenesis of MetS involves both genetic and acquired factors that contribute to the final pathway of inflammation that leads to CVD. MetS has gained significant importance recently due to the exponential increase in obesity worldwide. Early diagnosis is important in order to employ lifestyle and risk factor modification. Here, we review the epidemiology and pathogenesis of MetS, the role of inflammation in MetS, and summarize existing natural therapies for MetS.

Myasthenia gravis masquerading as dysphagia: unveiled by magnesium infusion

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disorder that typically affects the ocular, bulbar, neck, proximal limbs and respiratory muscles. Dysphagia can occasionally be the only presenting symptom leading to extensive but ultimately futile gastrointestinal workup. Delay in diagnosis and use of certain pharmacological agents in the interim can lead to a myasthenic crisis, which though diagnostic is life threatening. We document a case of dysphagia as the only symptom of myasthenia, diagnosed after a magnesium infusion precipitated myasthenic crisis. A 70-year-old Caucasian woman who had had progressive dysphagia for 2 years, for which multiple oesophageal dilations were performed. During a hosptalisation for further gastrointestinal workup, she went into myasthenic crisis (respiratory failure) after receiving magnesium replacement. She required ventilatory support and received five plasma exchange (PLEX) treatments after myasthenia was confirmed by the detection of high antiacetylcholine receptor antibody. Though her symptoms improved, she had a prolonged hospital stay (25 days) and required 18 days of mechanical ventilation. This underscores the morbidity associated with a delay in diagnosis of this condition. This case report suggests that neuromuscular causes should be considered early in elderly patients presenting with dysphagia. Timely diagnosis, initiation of management and avoidance of drugs that affect neuromuscular transmission may help reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with myasthenic crisis.

Balancing Primary Prevention and Statin-Induced Diabetes Mellitus Prevention.

Diabetes mellitus (DM), a modern-day epidemic, is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is believed that statins elevate the risk of incident DM. Multiple trials were suggestive of the hyperglycemic effect of long-term statin use. This has prompted the Food and Drug Administration to include the risk of DM in the product label of statins. New-onset DM with statin use is biologically plausible and can be explained based on the multiple pathways in glucose metabolism affected by statins. Most pivotal clinical trials on statins were not powered to adequately assess the risk of incident DM with statin use, and the results from multiple meta-analyses are mixed. Currently, the US Preventive Services Task Force recommend the use of statins for primary prevention in patients with at least 1 cardiovascular risk factor and a 10-year risk of >7.5%. With the new American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines, the number of patients eligible for statin therapy has increased exponentially, which also calls for caution and increased vigilance in prescribing physicians regarding the controversies surrounding statin use. This article aims to highlight the existing data on statin use for primary prevention in diabetics and nondiabetics and the association of statins use with new-onset DM and its postulated mechanisms.

Utilization and Predictors of Electrical Cardioversion in Patients Hospitalized for Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia in adults associated with thromboembolic complications. External electrical cardioversion (DCCV) is a safe procedure used to convert AF to normal sinus rhythm. We sought to study factors that affect utilization of DCCV in hospitalized patients with AF. The study sample was drawn from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project in the United States. Patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of AF that received DCCV during hospitalization in the years 2000–2010 were included. An estimated 2,810,530 patients with a primary diagnosis of AF were hospitalized between 2001 and 2010, of which 1,19,840 (4.26%) received DCCV. The likelihood of receiving DCCV was higher in patients who were males, whites, privately insured, and aged < 40 years and those with fewer comorbid conditions. Higher CHADS2 score was found to have an inverse association with DCCV use. In-hospital stroke, in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and cost for hospitalization were significantly lower for patients undergoing DCCV during AF related hospitalization. Further research is required to study the contribution of other disease and patient related factors affecting the use of this procedure as well as postprocedure outcomes.

Refractory Hypoxemia After Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication

Postoperative hypoxemia can result from a variety of causes. We describe a case of platypnea-orthodeoxia caused by shunting across a patent foramen ovale in a 72-year-old woman immediately after a laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication procedure. This was diagnosed by echocardiography and treated successfully with percutaneous device closure. An intracardiac shunt should always be considered as a potential cause of refractory postoperative hypoxemia after procedures on the thorax and upper abdomen.

Meta-analysis of clopidogrel pretreatment in acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing invasive strategy

BACKGROUND It is unknown whether pretreatment with clopidogrel in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) managed invasively, is superior to a strategy of administering clopidogrel in the cardiac catheterization laboratory at the time of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Current practice guidelines do not endorse one strategy over the other. METHODS A comprehensive literature search was done to identify all relevant studies comparing pretreatment with clopidogrel to administration in the cardiac catheterization laboratory at the time of PCI (no pretreatment). A meta-analysis using a random effects model was used to calculate outcomes of interest. RESULTS Our search identified 16 studies including 61,517 ACS patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. At 30days, clopidogrel pretreatment was associated with lower MACE 7.67% vs 9.46% (odds ratio (OR) 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.68, 0.86]; P<0.0001) and all-cause mortality 2.8% vs 4.1% (OR 0.70, 95% CI [0.58, 0.85]; P=0.0003). Mortality according to the longest follow up available was also significantly lower with pretreatment. No difference in major bleeding events was observed. These results were not significantly different between randomized vs observational studies or STEMI vs NSTEACS patients. Sensitivity analysis showed significantly lower MACE 7.98% vs 9.6% (OR 0.83, 95% CI [0.71, 0.96]; P=0.01) without increased major bleeding in NSTEACS patients undergoing PCI within 48h from pretreatment. CONCLUSION In ACS patients undergoing PCI, clopidogrel pretreatment was associated with significantly lower 30day all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events without increased major bleeding events.

Chiari Network and Aortic Valve Endocarditis with Concurrent Pulmonary and Systemic Embolization

Graphical abstract

Mitral valve vegetation diagnosed with oesophageal ultrasound with bronchoscope (EUS-B)

Oesophageal ultrasound with bronchoscope (EUS-B) is designed to evaluate mediastinal structures. We describe a case of a 78-year-old woman who presented with altered mental status for 2 weeks. CT head revealed a subacute infarct in the right middle cerebral artery distribution. She was also found to have a lung mass on chest imaging. EUS-B-guided fine needle aspiration demonstrated the presence of adenocarcinoma in station 7 lymph node and in the mass. Immunohistochemistry confirmed it to be a lung primary as the Thyroid Transcription Factor-1 (TTF-1) was strongly positive. During the procedure, the cardiac valves were evaluated, and a mitral valve vegetation was noted. Formal echocardiography confirmed the presence of the vegetation. During hospital stay, the patient developed fever. Her blood cultures grew oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. She was subsequently treated for infective endocarditis. We suggest that the use of EUS-B to routinely scan adjacent structures during a procedure may help obtain additional clinical information that may be critical to patient management.