Löffler's endomyocarditis in the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome.

The idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a leukoproliferative disorder characterized by sustained eosinophilia (> 1.5 x 10(9)/l) and (multi-)organ dysfunction caused by infiltration of eosinophils. Especially the heart is frequently affected. In this report, we describe 2 patients with HES and Löffler's endomyocarditis. Prednisone is the drug of choice for treatment. Both our patients responded very well to prednisone and came into remission. If prednisone fails, there are other therapeutic options like myelosuppressive drugs (hydroxyurea and vincristine) or interferon-alpha. We review the literature with regard to clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment.

Putative susceptibility markers of coronary artery disease: association between VDR genotype, smoking, and aromatic DNA adduct levels in human right atrial tissue.

Cancer and cardiovascular diseases share risk factors such as smoking, and the onset of both diseases have been suggested to have a common mechanistic basis. The binding of carcinogens to DNA (carcinogen-DNA adducts), genetic polymorphisms in carcinogen-detoxifying enzymes glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), and genetic polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) are among the candidates for modifiers of cancer risk. We determined whether these biomarkers could be related to individual characteristics of patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases. For that purpose, DNA from the right atrial appendage of 41 patients who underwent open heart surgery was analyzed for smoking-related DNA adducts and polymorphisms in GSTM1, GSTT1, and VDR genes. Statistical analysis was used to identify any patient's characteristics associated with these molecular markers. Our results showed that heart tissue of cigarette smokers contained a variety of aromatic DNA adducts in significantly elevated levels compared to ex-smokers (P<0.01) or nonsmokers (P<0.001). A linear relationship was observed between DNA adduct levels and daily cigarette smoking (rs=0.73; P=0.0003). Since cardiac myocytes are terminally differentiated cells that have lost their ability to divide and seemingly have limited DNA repair capacities, their levels might accumulate with time and thereby affect heart cell function or viability. Substantial interindividual differences between DNA adduct levels were observed, and persons with severe coronary artery disease (CAD), as assessed by coronary angiography, had higher DNA adduct levels than persons with no or mild CAD (P=0.04). As polymorphisms in GST genes have been shown to modulate DNA adduct levels and risk for lung cancer in smokers, we explored for the first time whether the GST polymorphisms could also explain deviating heart DNA adduct levels and CAD risk. However, no relation could be found between these covariants. In contrast, a VDR genotype, which has been associated with decreased serum levels of the active hormonal form of vitamin D and increased risk for certain cancers, seemed to be related to severity of CAD (P=0.025). Our findings support the hypothesis that smoking-related DNA damage may be involved in the onset of cardiovascular diseases and suggest that VDR genotype may be a useful susceptibility marker of CAD.

Comparison of the lysis centrifugation and radiometric blood culture systems for recovery of yeast.

The performance of the Isolator (lysis centrifugation) and Bactec (radiometric) detection systems for the recovery of fungi from blood was studied prospectively by comparison of 2,188 paired cultures obtained at two geographically separated teaching hospitals. Eight-three yeast isolates were recovered from 78 (3.6%) cultures that were obtained from 43 patients. Seventy-three (88%) yeast strains were recovered using the Isolator system, and 60 (72%) were recovered in the Bactec system. The average time for recovery of yeast was 2.3 days for the Isolator system and 3.1 days for the Bactec system. Optimal recovery can be accomplished through the use of both systems.

Effect of sodium nitroprusside on mortality in acute myocardial infarction.

We gave sodium nitroprusside by intravenous infusion to 163 randomly selected patients during the first 24 hours after hospitalization for typical acute myocardial infarction, and we studied its effects on mortality at one week, on the incidence of cardiogenic shock, on clinical signs of left ventricular failure, and on peak levels of creatine kinase isoenzyme MB. A control group of 165 patients received standard medical treatment and infusion of 5 per cent glucose. The end point of the study was a significant reduction in mortality in the nitroprusside group; this was reached when five deaths had occurred in this group, as compared with 18 among the controls (P less than 0.05). The incidence of cardiogenic shock, clinical signs of left-heart failure, and mean peak levels of creatine kinase isoenzyme MB were all reduced (P less than 0.05). The results indicate that infusion of nitroprusside in the early phase of acute infarction limits complications, possibly by reducing infarct size. The drug was particularly effective in anterior-wall infarction.

Treatment of acute myocardial infarction with sodium nitroprusside during 24 hours, followed by isosorbide dinitrate.

In a controlled randomized study of 328 consecutive patients admitted within 24 hours after the onset of acute myocardial infarction, 163 patients received a sodium nitroprusside infusion during 24 hours, followed by six times a day 5 mg isosorbide dinitrate for seven days and 165 patients received a glucose 5% infusion. Excluded from the study were patients with either pulmonary edema and/or cardiogenic shock, two or more previous myocardial infarctions or a systolic blood pressure of less than 95 mmHg just before entering the study. Sodium nitroprusside was titrated in such a way that systolic blood pressure was kept between 95 and 105 mmHg. Standard medical treatment for both groups was the same. CK-MB was sampled every four hours until peak value was reached. Endpoint of the study was a significant reduction in mortality within a week after starting treatment.