Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists: a Comprehensive Review of Finerenone.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We aim to review the mechanism of action and safety profile of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) and discuss the differences between selective and non-selective MRAs. More specifically, finerenone is a new medication that is currently under investigation for its promising cardiovascular and nephrological effects. RECENT FINDINGS: MRAs are well known for their utility in treating heart failure, refractory hypertension, and diverse nephropathies, namely, diabetic nephropathy. As their name denotes, MRAs inhibit the action of aldosterone at the mineralocorticoid receptor, preventing receptor activation. This prevents remodeling, decreases inflammation, and improves proteinuria. There are not significant differences in outcomes between selective and non-selective MRAs. A new selective MRA named finerenone (originally BAY 94-8862) has shown promising results in several trials (ARTS-HF and ARTS-DN) and smaller studies. Finerenone may have a dose-dependent benefit over older MRAs, decreasing rates of albuminuria and levels of BNP and NT-ProBNP without causing a significant increase in serum potassium levels. This medication is not yet approved as it is still in phase 3 clinical trials (FIGARO-DKD and FIDELIO-DKD trials). MRAs are beneficial in several disease states. Newer medications, such as finerenone, should be considered in patients with heart failure and diabetic nephropathy who may benefit from a reduction in albuminuria and BNP/NT-ProBNP. Data surrounding finerenone are limited to date. However, results from ongoing clinical trials, as well as new trials to evaluate use in other pathologies, could validate the implementation of this medication in daily practice.

Outcomes in Patients with COVID-19 Infection Taking ACEI/ARB.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the virus responsible for the aggressive coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Recently, investigators have stipulated that COVID-19 patients receiving angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) may be subject to poorer outcomes. This editorial presents the available evidence to guide treatment practices during this pandemic. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies from Wuhan cohorts provide valuable information about COVID-19. A cohort with 52 critically ill patients revealed cardiac injury in 12% of patients. Worse outcomes appear to be more prevalent in patients with hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM), possibly due to overexpression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor in airway alveolar epithelial cells. Investigators suspect that SARS-CoV-2 uses the ACE2 receptor to enter the lungs in a mechanism similar to SARS-CoV. Several hypotheses have been proposed to date regarding the net effect of ACEI/ARB on COVID-19 infections. Positive effects include ACE2 receptor blockade, disabling viral entry into the heart and lungs, and an overall decrease in inflammation secondary to ACEI/ARB. Negative effects include a possible retrograde feedback mechanism, by which ACE2 receptors are upregulated. Even though physiological models of SARS-CoV infection show a theoretical benefit of ACEI/ARB, these findings cannot be extrapolated to SARS-CoV-2 causing COVID-19. Major cardiology scientific associations, including ACC, HFSA, AHA, and ESC Hypertension Council, have rejected these correlation hypotheses. After an extensive literature review, we conclude that there is no significant evidence to support an association for now, but given the rapid evolvement of this pandemic, findings may change.

The Role of Anticoagulation in COVID-19-Induced Hypercoagulability.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We aim to provide a comprehensive analysis of hypercoagulability in individuals affected by COVID-19. Our goal is to describe the hypercoagulable state related to the infection and provide guidance regarding the possible benefits of anti-coagulation with the support of evidence from current literature. RECENT FINDINGS: The incidence of thrombotic disease in individuals affected by COVID-19 is reported as high as 31%. A significant mortality benefit has been observed with the use of therapeutic anticoagulation in high-risk individuals. Literature supports the use of scoring systems, such as the sepsis-induced coagulopathy score, to risk-stratify individuals who might benefit from anticoagulation. COVID-19-induced hypercoagulability has been demonstrated to play a significant role in overall COVID-19 outcomes. Current literature shows promising evidence with the use of therapeutic anticoagulation in high-risk individuals. Further studies are needed to better analyze the risks and benefits of anticoagulation in this specific patient population.

Cases and etiologies of suspected COVID-19 reactivation.

Our article outlines a perspective on COVID-19 reactivation with considerations of implored commentary on behalf of the medical community regarding open discourse about this subject. Such a topic is paramount in elucidating parameters that pertain to testing, and subsequent public health population dynamics once uneventful cases pass. We argue that what some may refer to as a reinfection or reactivation of the virus, is actually a result of prolonged shedding of the virus complemented with occasional false positives/negatives and lab errors. This article was written with the perspective of informing in addition to engage discussions that distill salient, evidence-based characterization of COVID-19. We hope to recruit fellow academics in medicine who see trends in their own respective communities about people who re-test, and to explore their clinical outcomes.

Association of Anthracycline With Heart Failure in Patients Treated for Breast Cancer or Lymphoma, 1985-2010.

Importance: Anthracyclines increase the risk for congestive heart failure (CHF); however, long-term cumulative incidence and risk factors for CHF after anthracycline therapy are not well defined in population-based studies. Objective: To compare the long-term cumulative incidence of CHF in patients with breast cancer or lymphoma treated with anthracycline therapy compared with healthy controls from the same community. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective population-based case-control study included data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Participants included residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, diagnosed with breast cancer or lymphoma from January 1985 through December 2010 matched for age, sex, and comorbidities with healthy controls, with a final ratio of 1 case to 1.5 controls. Statistical analysis was performed between July 2017 and February 2022. Exposures: Cancer treatment and CHF risk factors. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was new-onset CHF, as defined by the modified Framingham criteria. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) to compare the risk of CHF in participants with cancer vs controls, adjusted for age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, obesity, and smoking history. Results: A total of 2196 individuals were included, with 812 patients with cancer and 1384 participants without cancer. The mean (SD) age was 52.62 (14.56) years and 1704 participants (78%) were female. Median (IQR) follow-up was 8.6 (5.2-13.4) years in the case group vs 12.5 (8.7-17.5) years in the control group. Overall, patients with cancer had higher risk of CHF compared with the control cohort even after adjusting for age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and smoking status (HR, 2.86 [95% CI, 1.90-4.32]; P < .001). After adjusting for the same variables, CHF risk was greater for patients with cancer receiving anthracycline (HR, 3.25 [95% CI, 2.11-5.00]; P < .001) and was attenuated and lost statistical significance for patients with cancer not receiving anthracyclines (HR, 1.78 [95% CI, 0.83-3.81]; P = .14). Higher cumulative incidence for patients treated with anthracyclines vs comparator cohort was observed at 1 year (1.81% vs 0.09%), 5 years (2.91% vs 0.79%), 10 years (5.36% vs 1.74%), 15 years (7.42% vs 3.18%), and 20 years (10.75% vs 4.98%) (P < .001). There were no significant differences in risk of CHF for patients receiving anthracycline at a dose of less than 180 mg/m2 compared with those at a dose of 180 to 250 mg/m2 (HR, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.19-1.51]) or at a dose of more than 250 mg/m2 (HR, 1.23 [95% CI, 0.52-2.91]). At diagnosis, age was an independent risk factor associated with CHF (HR per 10 years, 2.77 [95% CI, 1.99-3.86]; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: In this retrospective population-based case-control study, anthracyclines were associated with an increased risk of CHF early during follow-up, and the increased risk persisted over time. The cumulative incidence of CHF in patients with breast cancer or lymphoma treated with anthracyclines at 15 years was more than 2-fold that of the control group.

Positive Pressure Ventilation in Cardiogenic Shock: Review of the Evidence and Practical Advice for Patients With Mechanical Circulatory Support.

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is often complicated by respiratory failure, and more than 80% of patients with CS require respiratory support. Elevated filling pressures from left-ventricular (LV) dysfunction lead to alveolar pulmonary edema, which impairs both oxygenation and ventilation. The implementation of positive pressure ventilation (PPV) improves gas exchange and can improve cardiovascular hemodynamics by reducing preload and afterload of the LV, reducing mitral regurgitation and decreasing myocardial oxygen demand, all of which can help augment cardiac output and improve tissue perfusion. In right ventricular (RV) failure, however, PPV can potentially decrease preload and increase afterload, which can potentially lead to hemodynamic deterioration. Thus, a working understanding of cardiopulmonary interactions during PPV in LV and RV dominant CS states is required to safely treat this complex and high-acuity group of patients with respiratory failure. Herein, we provide a review of the published literature with a comprehensive discussion of the available evidence on the use of PPV in CS. Furthermore, we provide a practical framework for the selection of ventilator settings in patients with and without mechanical circulatory support, induction, and sedation methods, and an algorithm for liberation from PPV in patients with CS.

Sarcoidosis y amiloidosis secundaria, una rara asociación / Sarcoidosis and secondary Amyloidosis, an uncommon association

Resumen La sarcoidosis es una enfermedad granulomatosa crónica relacionada frecuentemente con antígenos ambientales e infecciones. Sin embargo, no se ha logrado identificar una causa clara en todos los escenarios. Por su parte, la amiloidosis secundaria se caracteriza por el depósito de proteína amiloide AA en los diferentes tejidos, la cual se asocia a procesos inflamatorios crónicos. Es supremamente infrecuente coincidir con estas dos enfermedades ya que no existe una relación de causalidad directa. A continuación presentamos un caso de un paciente con hallazgos de esta rara asociación.

Abstract Sarcoidosis is a chronic granulomatous disease, frequently attributed to environmental antigens (organic and inorganic) and infections. However, it is quite common not to find a clear cause behind this pathology. Alternatively, secondary amyloidosis is characterized my Amyloid AA protein deposition in different tissues, which is associated with chronic inflammation. Nonetheless, it is extremely uncommon to find both sarcoidosis and secondary AA amyloidosis simultaneously provided that there is no a clear causality relationship between both. We present an interesting case of a patient with this uncommon duality.

Radiación ionizante: revisión de tema y recomendaciones para la práctica / Ionising radiation: A review of the topic and recommendations for using it

Resumen La seguridad en radiación es un tema de actualidad. A diario se evidencian las consecuencias deletéreas de esta herramienta diagnóstica y terapéutica. En su mayoría, las patologías asociadas secundarias a la exposición por radiación podrían prevenirse con una adecuada intervención preventiva y protectora. Se presenta un artículo de revisión con el fin de explicar de forma detallada los aspectos más relevantes acerca de la formación de los rayos X, su definición y clasificación dosimétrica, los efectos biológicos de la radiación, los límites recomendados y las medidas de protección para la exposición de radiación.

Abstract Radiation safety is a current topic. The harmful effects of this diagnostic and therapeutic tool are observed daily. The majority of associated secondary to radiation exposure could be prevented with suitable safety and protective measures. A review article is presented with the aim of explaining the most relevant aspects of radiation in detail, including the formation of x-rays, their dosimetry definition and classification, the biological effects of radiation, the recommended limits, as well as the protection measures for the exposure to radiation.

Ischemic stroke related to acute consumption of cocaine / Infarto cerebral por consumo de cocaína

Abstract Cocaine is one of the most common used psychomotor stimulants in the world. It's often used during the second and third decade of life. Nowadays, cocaine abuse in Colombia is rising, with negative effects for the consumer's health and making it a problem of public health. Cardiovascular diseases are the most common side effects related to cocaine abuse. However, adverse neurological effects remain to be a very important cause of morbidity and mortality. Particularly, the risk of ischemic stroke might be up to seven-fold higher in cocaine users in comparison to non-users. In the following report, we describe the case of a 22-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with a hemispheric ischemic stroke secondary to cocaine intake. Next, we review the key toxicological aspects and the physiopathology of this neurological complication, with special emphasis in the effect of the toxic metabolite "norcocaine", which can explain most of the adverse neurological outcomes. Finally, we review the therapeutic options for cocaine induced ischemic stroke.

Resumen La cocaína es una de las sustancias sicomotoras más usadas en el mundo. Es comúnmente utilizada durante la segunda y tercera década de la vida. Actualmente, el abuso de cocaína en Colombia está en aumento, con efectos negativos para la salud del consumidor, además de estar convirtiéndose en un grave problema de salud pública. Los efectos adversos más comunes del abuso de cocaína son los efectos cardiovasculares. Sin embargo, los efectos adversos neurológicos continúan siendo una importante causa de morbilidad y mortalidad. Particularmente, el riesgo de ataque cerebro vascular isquémico podría aumentarse siete veces más en pacientes consumidores de cocaína comparado con pacientes no consumidores. En el siguiente reporte de caso, describimos el caso de un paciente de 22 años, quien ingresó al servicio de urgencias con un ataque cerebro vascular isquémico secundario al uso de cocaína. Posteriormente, discutimos los principales aspectos toxicológicos y la fisiopatología de esta complicación neurológica, con énfasis especial en los efectos tóxicos del metabolito activo norcocaína, el cual pudiera explicar la mayoría de los efectos cardiovasculares adversos. Finalmente, planteamos el enfoque terapéutico del ataque cerebro vascular isquémico secundario a cocaína.

Subcutaneous implantable defibrillator: a therapeutic alternative for prevention of sudden cardiac death / Desfibrilador implantable subcutáneo: una alternativa terapéutica para la prevención de la muerte súbita cardiaca

Abstract: The transvenous implantable cardiac defibrillator (T-ICD) is currently considered the standard of care for prevention of sudden cardiac death in patients with structural cardiac disease or channelopathies. However, the use of these devices is associated with a significant increase of short and long-term complications, mostly related to intravascular leads. The subcutaneous implantable cardiac defibrillator (S-ICD) is a novel alternative for high-risk patients susceptible to intravascular lead complications, with a similar efficacy as T-ICD. Multiple ongoing clinical trials involving the S-ICD are expected to provide additional information about safety, use and benefits in the clinical setting.

Resumen: El desfibrilador cardiaco implantable transvenoso (DCI-T) se considera actualmente el tratamiento estándar para la prevención de la muerte súbita cardiaca en pacientes con enfermedad cardiaca estructural o canalopatías. Sin embargo, el uso de estos dispositivos se asocia con un aumento significativo de complicaciones a corto y largo plazo, principalmente relacionadas con derivaciones intravasculares. El desfibrilador cardiaco implantable subcutáneo (DCI-S) es una alternativa novedosa para pacientes de alto riesgo susceptibles a complicaciones intravasculares, con una eficacia similar al DCI-T. Se espera que varios ensayos clínicos en curso que involucran al DCI-S brinden información adicional sobre seguridad, uso y beneficios en el entorno clínico.