Disproportionately High Aortic Valve Calcium Scores in Atrial Fibrillation: Implications for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

AIMS: Doppler mean gradient (MG) can underestimate aortic stenosis (AS) severity in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) compared to patients in sinus rhythm (SR), potentially delaying intervention in AF. This study compared outcomes in patients with AF and SR following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and investigated delay in TAVR based on computed tomography aortic valve calcium score (AVCS). METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients who underwent TAVR from 2013 to 2017 for native valve severe AS were identified from an institutional database. Baseline characteristics and overall survival were compared between those in SR and AF. There were 820 patients (mean age 81 years; 41.6% female) included. AF was present in 356 patients. Patients in AF were older (82.2 vs. 80.5, p = 0.003), had lower MG compared to SR patients (42.0 vs. 44.9, p = 0.002) with similar indexed aortic valve area (0.4 vs. 0.4, p = 0.17). Median AVCS was higher in AF (males: AF 2850.0 vs. SR 2561.0, p = 0.044; females: AF 1942.0 vs. SR 1610.5, p = 0.025). Projected AVCS assuming same age of diagnosis was similar between AF and SR. Median survival post-TAVR was worse in AF compared to SR (3.2 vs 5.4 years, log rank p < 0.001). AF, lower MG, higher RVSP, dialysis, diabetes, and significant TR were associated with higher mortality (p < 0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: Older age and higher AVCS in patients with AF compared to SR suggests that AS was both underestimated and more advanced at TAVR referral.

Safety and efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for acute myeloid leukemia: A subgroup based meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a significant hematological malignancy in the United States, with a high mortality rate and limited treatment options. CAR T-cell therapy, a new and promising treatment, is being investigated for its efficacy and safety in AML. This meta-analysis aims to assess the safety and efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy in AML, considering various subgroups such as study location, study design, prior transplantation status, conditioning regimen, and CAR T-cell source. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive literature review across multiple databases, adhering to PRISMA guidelines and focusing on studies concerning CAR T-cell therapy in AML. We included original articles in English and excluded non-original reviews, abstracts, and non-English studies. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane ROBINS-I tool. Statistical analysis involved meta-analysis with Cochrane's Q-test and I² statistic, using both fixed-effect and random-effects models, and assessed for publication bias. RESULTS: Our search yielded studies encompassing 57 AML patients treated with CAR T-cell therapy. The meta-analysis revealed a 48% incidence of complete remission with CAR T-cell therapy, varying significantly across subgroups based on study design, location, prior transplantation, conditioning regimen, and CAR T-cell source. The highest complete remission rates were observed in patients from China, those who had undergone prior hematopoietic cell transplantation, and those treated with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide conditioning regimen. Adverse events included graft-versus-host disease (7%) and cytokine release syndrome (53%). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis highlights the potential of CAR T-cell therapy in AML treatment, especially when integrated with certain prior treatments and conditioning regimens. The findings suggest a higher efficacy in patients with previous hematopoietic cell transplantation and specific conditioning regimens. Further large-scale, randomized trials are essential to confirm these findings and establish CAR T-cell therapy as a standard treatment for AML.

Venous sinus stenting for idiopathic intracranial hypertension: An updated Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is characterized by elevated intracranial pressure and primarily affects obese women of reproductive age. Venous sinus stenting (VSS) is a surgical procedure used to treat IIH, but its safety and efficacy are still controversial. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Multiple databases were searched for studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of VSS in IIH patients and meta-analysis was performed to pool the data. RESULTS: A total of 36 studies involving 1066 patients who underwent VSS were included. After VSS, a significant reduction in trans-stenotic gradient pressure was observed. Patients also showed significantly lower cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) opening pressure. Clinical outcomes demonstrated improvement in tinnitus (95%), papilledema (89%), visual disturbances (88%), and headache (79%). However, 13.7% of patients experienced treatment failure or complications. The treatment failure rate was 8.35%, characterized by worsening symptoms and recurrence of IIH. The complications rate was 5.35%, including subdural hemorrhage, urinary tract infection, stent thrombus formation, and others. CONCLUSION: VSS appears to be a safe and effective treatment option for IIH patients who are unresponsive to medical therapy or have significant visual symptoms. However, long-term outcomes and safety of the procedure require further investigation.

Amphipathic Liponecrosis Impairs Bacterial Clearance and Causes Infection During Sterile Inflammation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Although transient bacteremia is common during dental and endoscopic procedures, infections developing during sterile diseases like acute pancreatitis (AP) can have grave consequences. We examined how impaired bacterial clearance may cause this transition. METHODS: Blood samples from patients with AP, normal controls, and rodents with pancreatitis or those administered different nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) were analyzed for albumin-unbound NEFAs, microbiome, and inflammatory cell injury. Macrophage uptake of unbound NEFAs using a novel coumarin tracer were done and the downstream effects-NEFA-membrane phospholipid (phosphatidylcholine) interactions-were studied on isothermal titration calorimetry. RESULTS: Patients with infected AP had higher circulating unsaturated NEFAs; unbound NEFAs, including linoleic acid (LA) and oleic acid (OA); higher bacterial 16S DNA; mitochondrial DNA; altered ß-diversity; enrichment in Pseudomonadales; and increased annexin V-positive myeloid (CD14) and CD3-positive T cells on admission. These, and increased circulating dead inflammatory cells, were also noted in rodents with unbound, unsaturated NEFAs. Isothermal titration calorimetry showed progressively stronger unbound LA interactions with aqueous media, phosphatidylcholine, cardiolipin, and albumin. Unbound NEFAs were taken into protein-free membranes, cells, and mitochondria, inducing voltage-dependent anion channel oligomerization, reducing ATP, and impairing phagocytosis. These were reversed by albumin. In vivo, unbound LA and OA increased bacterial loads and impaired phagocytosis, causing infection. LA and OA were more potent for these amphipathic interactions than the hydrophobic palmitic acid. CONCLUSIONS: Release of stored LA and OA can increase their circulating unbound levels and cause amphipathic liponecrosis of immune cells via uptake by membrane phospholipids. This impairs bacterial clearance and causes infection during sterile inflammation.

Native Valve Endocarditis Caused by Nocardia asteroides in an Immunocompetent Host: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature.

Nocardia species are a rare cause of infective endocarditis (IE). We describe a case of native valve endocarditis caused by Nocardia asteroides in a 38-year-old Hispanic male with no apparent environmental exposures or risk factors for IE. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed severe mitral regurgitation, prompting emergent replacement of the valve. Nocardia asteroides were isolated from the tissue culture of the mitral valve. MRI of the brain also demonstrated innumerable micronodular intra-axial lesions throughout the brain, consistent with disseminated nocardiosis. The patient was treated with intravenous trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, meropenem, and amikacin for a six-week course, followed by oral trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and minocycline for 12 months. Follow-up after 18 months revealed no evidence of relapse. Although several cases of endocarditis due to Nocardia asteroides have been reported in immunocompromised hosts, to the best of our knowledge we believe the present case is the first to describe native valve endocarditis by Nocardia asteroides in an immunocompetent host with no apparent risk factors for IE.

Restless Legs Syndrome among patients receiving antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs.

BACKGROUND: Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) experience psychological distress and diminished quality of life. Antipsychotics and antidepressants are known to be linked to RLS. AIMS: This study aims to investigate the presence of RLS in psychiatric patients who receive antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs and to determine potential risk factors for its occurrence. METHODS: Two hundred patients who received antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs for more than 1 month were recruited from two tertiary psychiatric centers in Cairo, Egypt. One hundred apparently healthy volunteers were also included. All patients and controls were screened using the four-items questionnaire (Arabic version) for RLS. RLS severity was scored according to the validated Arabic version of International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group rating scale (IRLS). Mimicking conditions were carefully investigated and excluded. RESULTS: Forty-one percent of the patients who receive antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs were found to have RLS. Family history, past history and smoking are potential risk factors. Trazodone and haloperidol were less associated with RLS. CONCLUSIONS: Although limited by its cross-sectional design, these findings suggest that patients who receive antipsychotic and antidepressant are susceptible to RLS. However, these results need to be replicated on a wider scale.

Prevalence of smartphone addiction and its correlates in a sample of Egyptian university students.

BACKGROUND: Smartphone addiction is considered currently as a public health concern especially among university students. AIM: The study assesses the prevalence of smartphone addiction and its sociodemographic and psychiatric correlates among Egyptian university students. METHODS: A random sample of 1,380 undergraduate Egyptian university students from different universities were assessed using the smartphone addiction short scale, Beck depression Inventory, Beck anxiety Inventory, Pittsburgh sleep Quality Index, and Columbia suicide severity scale. RESULTS: About 59% are smartphone addicts without any gender difference, we find a highly significant relation between smartphone addiction and depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, smoking, and suicide. CONCLUSION: our study adds to the existing literature regarding the magnitude of smartphone addiction and its relationship with different psychiatric disorders.

Visual evoked potentials changes with surgery in primary congenital glaucoma: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To report the flash visual evoked potential (VEP) findings in children with primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) before and after successful surgical control of the intraocular pressure (IOP). METHODS: The study enrolled children presenting with PCG to the Ophthalmology Department of Alexandria Main University Hospital in the period between June and December 2019. All study participants were subjected to a standard protocol of examination, to confirm the diagnosis of PCG. The child was then referred for flash VEP testing. Peaks were designated as negative and positive waves in a numerical sequence (N1, P1, N2, P2, N3 and P3). The child was then scheduled for surgery within 1 week of presentation. Postoperative VEP testing was scheduled as soon as feasible and was conducted in the same way as the preoperative VEP testing. RESULTS: The study was conducted on 11 (four right) eyes of eight (five males) children. The mean ± standard deviation of the age of the study children at presentation and at postoperative VEP testing was 3.5 ± 1.6 and 5.1 ± 3.0 months, respectively. The study eyes mean ± standard deviation IOP at presentation and at postoperative VEP testing was 23.0 ± 6.7 and 8.3 ± 2.4 mmHg, respectively (p < 0.0001). There were a statistically insignificant reduction in P2 implicit time (p = 0.235) and a statistically insignificant increase in each of N1-P1 (p = 0.15) and N2-P2 (p = 0.67) amplitudes postoperatively than preoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: IOP elevation in PCG adversely affects the optic nerve function, but, at least in the short term, has no permanent detrimental effect on the optic nerve function as evidenced by the improvement in the VEP parameters.

Screening for metabolic liver diseases crucial to increase SVR to patients with CHC.

Liver diseases and its complications is common health problem worldwide. The emergence of metabolic disorders as a cause after exclusion of viral hepatitis nowadays is important. This is retrospective study on 200 patient's age range from 6months to 18 years old (50 females and 150 males). The patients divided into 2 groups according to age < 5 years & >5 years and all investigations done was collected and statistically processed. Abdominal enlargement was observed in 166/200 of all patients, 48/166 (67.6%) in patients <5 years old and 118/166 (91.5%) in patients >5 years old with statistical significant, jaundice was present in 34/200 of patients, 23/34 (32.4%) in patients <5 years old and 11/34(8.5%) in patients >5 years old, with statistical significant difference, CBC was normal in 58/200 of all age groups. 10/58 (14.1%) in patients <5 years old, 48/58 (73.2%) in patients <5 years old, with statistical significant difference and abnormal CBC in 142/200 (61/142, 62.8%) in age group > 5 years old, 81/142 (85.9%) in age group <5 years. Metabolic disorders was normal in 124/200 of all age groups, 23/124 (32.4%) in patients <5 years old. Metabolic disorders was abnormal in 76/200 of all, 48/76(67.6%) in patients >5 years old and 28/76 (21.7%) in patients < 5 years old, with statistical significant difference & for both age groups. The sensitivity of modalities used in the diagnosis of liver disease was as follow for US, study of metabolic profile, abnormal liver functions and abnormal CBC, 83.1%, 65.2%, 61.6% and 66.1% consequently.