Metabesity: expert panel recommendation for taking up the challenge by a multidisciplinary approach.

Metabesity refers to metabolic aberrations associated with obesity. These include low- grade inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and changes in gut microbiome. Along with a genetic component, the phenotypes in metabesity are largely the result of sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits. Metabesity is associated with several co-morbidities including an increased risk for cardiovascular conditions like hypertension, heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, and sudden death. Insulin resistance, high blood pressure and glucose levels, visceral adiposity, progressive atherosclerosis, dyslipidaemia and fatty liver are common in obese individuals. Obesity increases the risk for and overall mortality due to cancer. Metabesity adversely impacts endocrine balances in the body and increases the risk of degenerative conditions like dementia. Metabesity is an impending epidemic of huge public health implications with enormous clinical, socioeconomic, and humanistic burden. Interventions to combat sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating should be introduced early in life to prevent the onset and progression of metabesity. This review also summarizes the experts' recommendation from Pakistan to manage the rising metabesity concern in their geography based on the literature evidences.

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Left Atrial Volume Index in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are at high risk of developing cardio vascular disease. Left atrial volume index (LAVi) is an indicator of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. We conducted this study to find out the correlation of LAVi and other echocardio- graphic parameters with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We prospectively enrolled 170 individuals: 69 patients with CKD and 101 controls. Echocardiographic parameters including systolic and diastolic volumes of left ventricle, LAVi, ejection fraction (EF), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), and E/e ratio were measured in all participants. The demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic parameters were examined. From the total of 170 individuals, 69 (40.5%) patients had CKD and 101 (59.5%) had normal renal profile. There were 38 (55.07%) males in the CKD group and 71 (70.29%) in the control group. Patients with CKD had higher median LAVi [33.33 mL/m2 ± 11.71 vs. 22.54 mL/m2 ± 5.82; P < 0.001], higher median E/e ratio [10.41 ± 6.28 vs. 7.48 ± 2.28; P < 0.001], higher median PASP [42.47 ± 13.64 vs. 33.59 ± 12.51; P < 0.001], and lower median EF [52.79% ± 14.37 vs. 60.7% ± 8; P < 0.001]. There was a statistically significant negative correlation of eGFR with LAVi (r = -0.515, P < 0.001), PASP (r = -0.44, P = 0.001), and E/e ratio (r = -0.331, P = 0.001). Patients with CKD have higher LAVi, PASP, and E/e ratio and lower EF as compared to individuals without CKD. There is a significant negative correlation between eGFR and LAVi.

Mitral Annular Calcification In Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease On Dialysis Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Mitral Annular Calcification (MAC) is a degenerative process involving the mitral valve and is a marker of advanced cardiovascular disease. Prevalence in the general population is upto 10% and increases in advanced age, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease (CKD), end stage renal disease (upto 40%) and mitral valve prolapse.The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of MAC in CKD5D patients and correlate with patients' characteristics. METHODS: Echocardiograms were obtained in 84 hemodialysis patients. Association of MAC with various patient characteristics was studied. Data was analysed using SPSS-22. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 63.38±12.3 years and 48 (57%) were males. Sixty-eight patients (81%) had DM and 79 (94%) had hypertension. MAC was present in 37 out of 84 (44%) patients. Sixty-four (72%) had IHD. The presence of MAC correlated significantly with IHD (Odds Ratio 6.42, p=0.006). Mean follow up of the patients was 30.30±29.22 months and 37 (44%) suffered mortality during this period. Patients on dialysis for longer than 36 months had an elevated risk of developing MAC (OR=3.32, p=0.019). Patients with the following risk factors: serum PO4 greater than 5.5 (OR=2.03), DM (OR=1.95), HTN (OR=3.35), Age >60 (OR=1.83), AFIB (OR=1.28); had an observable increase in incidence of MAC with time but they weren't statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Mitral Annular Calcification is common in hemodialysis patients and correlates significantly with IHD. Our findings support the recommendation by KDIGO 2017 guidelines on Mineral and Bone Disease on the use of echocardiography for the detection of valvular calcification.

Survival from hepatocellular carcinoma at a cancer hospital in Pakistan.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the tumour and general characteristics, especially survival, of patients presenting with hepatocellular carcinoma at our tertiary care cancer hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 584 charts of patients consecutively registered between 1995 and 2004 at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, in Lahore, Pakistan. Descriptive statistics were obtained for gender, age, tumour size and morphology, alpha fetoprotein level, means of diagnosis, Child-Pugh status, risk factors, treatment given and follow-up. Survival analysis was conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Mean age at presentation was 56 years. Four hundred and forty four (76%) were male. Average tumour diameter evaluable in 412 patients was 8 cm. HCC was unifocal in 194 (33%), multifocal in 303 (52%) and unevaluable in 106. Mean AFP was 4,198 u/ml (range 1 - 278,560). Methods of diagnosis were FNA in 71, biopsy in 26, imaging/AFP > 200 in 70, lipiodol angiogram in 42, combinations of two of these in 365 and biphasic CT scans in 10. Initial Child-Pugh available for 400/584 was A in 216, B in 147 and C in 37. Evidence of prior hepatitis B infection was found in 114, and for hepatitis C in 254. Other than the four patients who had TACE followed by surgical resection, treatment was offered to 79/584 patients: among the 48 who had TACE, 26 experienced cancer progression whereas 11 had stable disease ranging from 6 - 20 months; another 11 were lost to follow-up. Of the 14 patients who underwent local resection, 2 were lost to follow-up, 7 developed recurrences but 5 remained disease free for a mean of 33 months. Following ethanol ablation in 17 patients, disease progressed in 5 but remained stable in 2 for a mean of 13 months; 10 were lost to follow-up. At the time of writing, 56 patients are alive (mean follow-up 20 months), 210 are known to have died (mean follow-up 9 months), and 318 were lost to follow-up within 3 months. Median overall survival was 10.5 months, death being the point of interest for survival analysis. Child-Pugh class stratified analysis (400/584) revealed median survival of 12 months for class A, 7.7 months for class B and 4 months for class C (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients present with large, multifocal tumours, with poor liver function. Sixty one percent had evidence of prior infection with hepatitis B or C. The advanced stage at presentation, poor background liver function in many and the absence of a national liver transplantation program limit treatment options. Only 14% of patients were considered suitable for definitive treatment. Survival correlated with Child-Pugh status at presentation. Overall prognosis remains bleak. There is an urgent need to educate the public about the risks of hepatitis B and C and health professionals about early diagnosis and treatment, including possible development of a sustainable national liver transplant program.

Amniotic Fluid Embolism.

We report a case of 34-year patient who had uncomplicated elective caesarean-section. Postoperatively, she developed sudden hypotension, bradycardia, dyspnea and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), all signs associated with amniotic fluid embolism (AFE). Echocardiogram showed signs of acutely increased right ventricular after load including McConell's sign, i.e. right ventricular dilatation, segmental hypokinesia (mid-right ventricular) and hypercontractile right ventricular apex and overall right ventricular dysfunction. Similarly, 60/60 sign was positive on chocardiography (decreased right ventricular acceleration time of less than 60 milli-seconds and pulmonary artery systolic pressure of less than 60 mmHg). Performance of CT pulmonary angiogram failed to show any clear thromboembolic phenomenon; although, there were other indirect signs pointing towards the diagnosis. She was treated with aggressive supportive care without anticoagulation and she showed complete recovery, with follow-up echocardiogram becoming absolutely normal after 9 days with normalization of right ventricular size and function and improvement in 60/60 sign.

Fixation of bilateral pelvic osteotomies with external fixator in exstrophy bladder complex.

OBJECTIVE: To present the early results of pelvic osteotomies performed for repair of exstrophy bladder. METHODS: Five cases of exstrophy bladder were treated with closure following bilateral iliac osteotomies. Three patients underwent closure of pubic symphysis diastasis by use of external fixator, one by screws and cerclage wires, and one by use of K-wires and suture. The patients were followed up by the pediatric urologist and orthopedic surgeon. RESULTS: All patients achieved a closure of diastasis and a tension free repair after the index surgery. The average follow-up was 3.6 years with range of 4 months to 6 years. All osteotomies healed within two months and had closure of the diastasis, except one which had a partial failure with loss of 50% correction. No patient had any wound dehiscence or breakdown of the bladder repair. Preoperative mean diastasis of symphysis pubis was 6 cm (range; 4.5 cm to 7 cm) and post operative mean diastasis was 3.5 cm with the range of 2.5 cm to 4 cm at 12 months follow up. All patients achieved urinary continence post operatively and were passing urine per-urethra with satisfactory urinary control as followed-up with the pediatric urologists. CONCLUSION: Bilateral iliac osteotomies and use of external fixator in our series was found to be helpful in achieving a tension free closure and preventing dehiscence of the repair.