Background The left atrial appendage (LAA) shape and size are very variable, and incomplete appendage closure or persistent leaks around the device are common following device placement. Limited studies reported the rate of peri-device leaks (PDL) after percutaneous left atrial appendage closure, and the impact of 3D transesophageal echocardiography (3D-TEE) on the detection of those leaks. Aim To describe the rate and location of leaks 1 month after percutaneous closure of the LAA, with and without the use of 3D-TEE. Methods A cohort study of consecutive patients (P) who were submitted to a percutaneous LAA closure with success in one interventional cardiology centre, between May 2010 and October 2018, were included. Clinical and echocardiography data were recorded and analysed. Two groups were created: Group A (GA) included patients until August 2015 submitted to 2D TEE on follow up (N= 48) versus Group B (GB), which was composed of patients submitted to 3D-TEE after August 2015 (N= 76). Results A total of 124 P had an in-hospital admission for LAA closure, with control TEE 1 month after the procedure. Mean age was 73 ± 7 years old, with 62.9% male patients. The procedure was guided by TEE (52%) or intra cardiac echocardiography (ICE) (48%).Transeptal puncture was preferred (95% of the procedures). The most used device was Amulet (62%) vs ACP (23%) and Watchman (15%). In the follow up TEE, 20% of patients had only 1 leak and 2% had 2 leaks. Of the detected leaks,31% were considered minor (< 1 mm), 35% moderate (1-3 mm) and 34% major (> 3 mm). Patients with leaks had a larger LAA diameter (22 ± 4 mm vs. 17 ± 3 mm, P = 0.01). Of the detected leaks, 50% were located in the superior portion of the device, 23% were located in the inferior portion, 8% in the posterior portion and 8% in the lateral portion. In GA the rate of leaks was 14% vs 24.5% in GB, with differences also when specified the size of the leak – minor (GA 2% vs GB 8.8%), moderate (GA 8% vs GB 8.1%) and major (GA 4% vs GB 7.6%). Conclusion The use of 3D echocardiography, 1 month after successful percutaneous LAA closure, augmented the rate of detection of device leaks. It remains to be studied the clinical impact of this finding.
Background Historically, women (W) with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have worse outcomes compared with men (M). This fact may occur due to gender-specific differences in the presentation and management of patients (P), which were mainly observed in studies dealing with ST-segment elevation infarction (STEMI). There seems to be a gap of knowledge in gender-specific differences in non- ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and unstable angina (UA). Purpose Assess gender-specific differences in presentation, treatment and outcomes in NSTEMI and UA patients. Methods A retrospective cohort study from consecutive ACS patients enrolled in a multicentre national registry from October 2010 to December 2018 was conducted, identifying 11394 P admitted with NSTEMI or UA. Demographic, clinical and treatment variables were compared between male gender and female gender P. A Cox multivariate regression was performed to evaluate predictor factors of stablished endpoints: mortality at 1-year (1y) and cardiovascular (CV) hospitalization at 1-year. Results A total 11394 P were included, 8145 M (71.5%) and 3249 W (28.5%), mean age of 68±13. W, comparing with M, had higher age (72±12 vs 66±13, p=0.001), higher prevalence of hypertension (85% vs 72%, p=0.001) and diabetes (41% vs 34%, p=0.001) and longer time from symptoms to hospital admission (360 minutes vs 297 minutes, p=0.001). Chest pain was less frequent as first symptom in W (85.6% vs 91.3%, p=0.001). In medical treatment, W had higher chance of not having administration of a loading dose of P2Y12 inhibitor (22.1% vs 18.1, p=0.001) and of being medicated with clopidogrel (85.7% vs 82.1%, p=0.002). At discharge, W were less frequently medicated with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or an angiotensin II receptor blocker (82.6% vs 84.4, p=0.028). Coronary angiography was less frequently performed in W (77.3% vs 85.7%, p=0.001). Coronary artery disease was less frequently found in the female gender (12.4% vs 4.8%, p=0.001). In-hospital mortality was higher in W (2.9% vs 2.1%), but in the multivariate analysis the female gender was not an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (OR 1.05 [0.67- 1.65], p=0.823). 1-year mortality was higher in W (9.2% vs 7.3%) and 1-year CV hospitalization was higher in M (16.8% vs 14.4%). After adjusting for covariates in Cox regression analysis, difference was still significant for mortality (HR= 1.274 [1.038 - 1.564], p=0.02) and hospitalization (HR = 0.852 [0.726- 0.998], p=0.047). Conclusion In this NSTEMI and UA cohort, there are important gender-specific differences in comorbidities, diagnosis, management and outcomes. Gender was an independent predictor of 1-year mortality and 1-year CV hospitalization, but not an independent predictor for in-hospital mortality. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None
Background Syncope is a very common reason for presenting to the emergency department (ED). The existence of a telemetry unit is crucial but it is not the reality in some hospitals. In order to avoid unnecessary ward admission, 24-hour Holter (24HH) monitoring could be useful to help with the diagnosis (when the arrhythmic etiology is suspected and the symptoms are frequent enough) and also be important to safely discharge a patient. Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of 24HH monitoring, during a syncope episode in the ER, and to compare the readmission rates between patients with normal and abnormal not diagnostic 24HH monitoring. Methods A cohort study of consecutive patients (P) who were monitored with 24HH in one hospital in the ED, between January 2015 and December 2017, were included. All the 24HH results were seen by a senior cardiologist and divided in three groups: A - normal, B - abnormal Holter study unlikely to explain syncope and C- Holter study considered to be diagnostic. Groups A and B were compared using chi-square independence test to evaluate association between the result of the 24HH and readmission rates at 30 days and 1 year, as well as mortality and device implantation at 1 year. Multivariate logistic regression was used to look for other confounders. Results A total of 111 P were included in this study. Mean age was 75 ± 14 years old, with 55.6% male patients. A previous emergency episode with syncope was present in 56.9% of P. The mortality at one-year follow-up was 11.9%. The 24HH was considered diagnostic in 25.2% of P (28 P), with 18.9% of all the P with necessity of pacemaker (PM) implantation. In the patients with a non-diagnostic 24HH, 6,4% implanted a loop recorder before discharge. Group B patients had a higher 30-day readmission rate to the ED when compared with group A (OR = 4.050 CI 95 [1.13 – 14.497], p = 0.033), but no difference in one-year readmission rate (p= 0.065). There was no difference in one-year mortality between the two groups (p= 0.731) or in one-year implantation of pacemaker (p= 0.431). Conclusion The use of 24HH in the ED could be a valuable tool in the diagnosis of rhythm disorders that cause syncope. An abnormal non diagnostic result can still be a predictor of 30-day readmission to the ED with similar complaints.
Purpose: examine the literature on the role of vitamin D in the evolution and exacerbation of mood disorders, with a focus on bipolar and depressive disorders. Methodology: Literature review in the PubMed database. Through the following search strategy: vitamin D AND (bipolar disorder OR mood disorders). After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 15 articles were selected to compose the collection of this study. Results: Vitamin D plays two main roles in the body. The first is related to the regulation of the immune system, where it suppresses the production of proinflammatory cytokines and increases levels of anti-inflammatory ones. This role is relevant in the context of bipolar disorder, which is associated with increased pro-inflammatory cytokines. The second paper focuses on the mechanisms linked to depression, specifically in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. In this context, vitamin D acts as an antagonist of glucocorticoids, which are excessively active in these disorders. Furthermore, there is evidence that vitamin D can also regulate the formation of new neurons in the hippocampus. Final considerations: Vitamin D plays a significant role in the evolution and exacerbation of disorders, being essential for the proper functioning of the central nervous system and for the regulation of the immune system.
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