Current Place of SGLT2i in the Management of Heart Failure: An Expert Opinion from India.

Heart failure (HF) is a global health concern that is prevalent in India as well. HF is reported at a younger age in Indian patients with comorbidity of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in approximately 50% of patients. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), originally approved for T2DM, are new guideline-recommended and approved treatment strategies for HF. Extensive evidence highlights that SGLT2i exhibits profound cardiovascular (CV) benefits beyond glycemic control. SGLT2i, in conjunction with other guideline-directed medical therapies (GMDT), has additive effects in improving heart function and reducing adverse HF outcomes. The benefits of SGLT2i are across a spectrum of patients, with and without diabetes, suggesting their potential place in broader HF populations irrespective of ejection fraction (EF). This consensus builds on the updated evidence of the efficacy and safety of SGLT2i in HF and recommends its place in therapy with a focus on Indian patients with HF.

Consensus Statement from India on the Renal Benefits of ARNi, SGLT-2i, and Bisoprolol in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in India. CKD often coexists with heart failure (HF), diabetes, and hypertension. All these comorbidities are risk factors for renal impairment. HF and CKD are pathophysiologically intertwined, and the deterioration of one can worsen the prognosis of the other. There is a need for safe renal pharmacological therapies that target both CKD and HF and are also useful in hypertension and diabetes. Neurohormonal activation achieved through the activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), and the natriuretic peptide system (NPS) is fundamental in the pathogenesis and progression of CKD and HF. Angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNi), sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i), and selective ß1-blocker (B1B) bisoprolol suppress this neurohormonal activation. They also have many other cardiorenal benefits across a wide range of CKD patients with or without concomitant HF, diabetes, or hypertension. This consensus statement from India explores the place of ARNi, SGLT-2i, and bisoprolol in the management of CKD patients with or without HF and other comorbidities.

Role of Iron Therapy in Heart Failure: A Consensus Statement from India.

Iron deficiency (ID) with or without anemia is frequently observed in patients with heart failure (HF). Uncorrected ID is associated with higher hospitalization and mortality in patients with acute HF (AHF) and chronic HF (CHF). Hence, in addition to chronic renal insufficiency, anemia, and diabetes, ID appears as a novel comorbidity and a treatment target of CHF. Intravenous (IV) ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) reduces the hospitalization risk due to HF worsening and improves functional capacity and quality of life (QOL) in HF patients. The current consensus document provides criteria, an expert opinion on the diagnosis of ID in HF, patient profiles for IV FCM, and correct administration and monitoring of such patients.

Angiotensin Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibitor Therapy and Cardiac Remodeling in Heart Failure: Consensus Statement from India.

Adverse cardiac remodeling refers to progressive structural and functional modifications in the heart because of increased wall stress in the myocardium, loss of viable myocardium, and neurohormonal stimulation. The guideline-directed medical therapy for Heart failure (HF) includes Angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) (sacubitril/valsartan), ß-blockers, sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA). ARNI is under-prescribed in India despite its attractive safety and efficacy profile. Therefore, the consensus discusses objectives and topics related to ARNI in the management of cardiac remodeling, and experts shared their views on the early timely intervention of effective dosage of ARNI to improve the diagnosis and enhance mortality and morbidity benefits in cardiac reverse remodeling (CRR).

Role of Bisoprolol in Heart Failure Management: A Consensus Statement from India.

In India, heart failure (HF) is an important health concern affecting younger age groups than the western population. A limited number of Indian patients receive guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). Selective ß-1 blockers (BB) are one of the GDMTs in HF and play an important role by decreasing the sympathetic overdrive. The BB reduces heart rate (HR) reverse the adverse cardiac (both ventricular and atrial), vascular, and renovascular remodeling seen in HF. Bisoprolol, a ß-1 blocker, has several advantages and can be used across a wide spectrum of HF presentations and in patients with HF and comorbid conditions such as coronary artery disease (CAD), atrial fibrillation (AF), post-myocardial infarction (MI), uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, and renal impairment. Despite its advantages, bisoprolol is not optimally utilized for managing HF in India. This consensus builds on updated evidence on the efficacy and safety of bisoprolol in HF and recommends its place in therapy with a focus on Indian patients with HF.

Unmet Need for Further LDL-C Lowering in India despite Statin Therapy: Lipid Association of India Recommendations for the Use of Bempedoic Acid.

Lipid-lowering therapy plays a crucial role in reducing adverse cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and familial hypercholesterolemia. Lifestyle interventions along with high-intensity statin therapy are the first-line management strategy followed by ezetimibe. Only about 20-30% of patients who are on maximally tolerated statins reach recommended low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals. Several factors contribute to the problem, including adherence issues, prescription of less than high-intensity statin therapy, and de-escalation of statin dosages, but in patients with very high baseline LDL-C levels, including those with familial hypercholesterolemia and those who are intolerant to statins, it is critical to expand our arsenal of LDL-C-lowering medications. Moreover, in the extreme risk group of patients with an LDL-C goal of ≤30 mg/dL according to the Lipid Association of India (LAI) risk stratification algorithm, there is a significant residual risk requiring the addition of non-statin drugs to achieve LAI recommended targets. This makes bempedoic acid a welcome addition to the existing non-statin therapies such as ezetimibe, bile acid sequestrants, and PCSK9 inhibitors. A low frequency of muscle-related side effects, minimal drug interactions, a significant reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and a lower incidence of new-onset or worsening diabetes make it a useful adjunct for LDL-C lowering. However, the CV outcomes trial results are still pending. In this LAI consensus document, we discuss the pharmacology, indications, contraindications, advantages, and evidence-based recommendations for the use of bempedoic acid in clinical practice.

Factors Predicting Blood Culture Positivity in Children With Enteric Fever.

BACKGROUND: Blood culture, despite low sensitivity, is the gold standard for enteric fever diagnosis. Understanding predictors of blood culture positivity may help design strategies to optimize enteric fever diagnosis. METHODS: A cohort of 6760 children aged 0.5-15 years was followed for 3 years for enteric fever with blood cultures in an automated system, for fevers >3 days. Factors affecting test positivity in fevers and participant-level predictors for culture refusals were analyzed using regression models. RESULTS: Overall, 6097 suspected typhoid/paratyphoid fever (STF) episodes were reported, of which 5703 (93.5%) STFs had sampling for blood cultures, with 394 (6.5%) refusals. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi/Paratyphi positivity was culture-confirmed in 3.8% (218/5703) of STF episodes. Older children (odds ratio [OR], 1.96 [95% CI, 1.39-2.77]), larger blood volume inoculated (OR, 2.82 [95% CI, 1.71-4.66]), higher temperatures during fever (OR, 3.77 [95% CI, 2.89-4.91]), and fevers diagnosed as suspected typhoid or acute undifferentiated fever (OR, 6.06 [95% CI, 3.11-11.78]) had a higher probability of culture positivity. Antibiotics before culture did not decrease culture positivity. Blood culture refusals were higher for children from wealthier households or with milder illness. CONCLUSIONS: Performing blood cultures in older children with fever, especially those fevers with toxic presentation and increasing blood volume for inoculation are strategies to improve enteric fever detection in surveillance settings.

Consensus document: management of heart failure in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a known predisposing factor for heart failure (HF). The growing burden of these two conditions and their impact on health of the individual and on society in general needs urgent attention from the health care professionals. Availability of multiple treatment choices for managing T2DM and HF may make therapeutic decisions more complex for clinicians. Recent cardiovascular outcome trials of antidiabetic drugs have added very robust evidence to effectively manage subjects with this dual condition. This consensus statement provides the prevalence trends and the impact of this dual burden on patients. In addition, it concisely narrates the types of HF, the different treatment algorithms, and recommendations for physicians to comprehensively manage such patients.

The Duration of Intestinal Immunity After an Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine Booster Dose in Children Immunized With Oral Vaccine: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: In 2014, 2 studies showed that inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) boosts intestinal immunity in children previously immunized with oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). As a result, IPV was introduced in mass campaigns to help achieve polio eradication. Methods: We conducted an open-label, randomized, controlled trial to assess the duration of the boost in intestinal immunity following a dose of IPV given to OPV-immunized children. Nine hundred healthy children in Vellore, India, aged 1-4 years were randomized (1:1:1) to receive IPV at 5 months (arm A), at enrollment (arm B), or no vaccine (arm C). The primary outcome was poliovirus shedding in stool 7 days after bivalent OPV challenge at 11 months. Results: For children in arms A, B, and C, 284 (94.7%), 297 (99.0%), and 296 (98.7%), respectively, were eligible for primary per-protocol analysis. Poliovirus shedding 7 days after challenge was less prevalent in arms A and B compared with C (24.6%, 25.6%, and 36.4%, respectively; risk ratio 0.68 [95% confidence interval: 0.53-0.87] for A versus C, and 0.70 [0.55-0.90] for B versus C). Conclusions: Protection against poliovirus remained elevated 6 and 11 months after an IPV boost, although at a lower level than reported at 1 month. Clinical Trials Registration: CTRI/2014/09/004979.

Influence of Diet Composition on Cattle Rumen Methanogenesis: A Comparative Metagenomic Analysis in Indian and Exotic Cattle.

Comparative metagenomics approach has been used in this study to discriminate colonization of methanogenic population in different breeds of cattle. We compared two Indian cattle breeds (Gir and Kankrej) and two exotic cattle (Holstein and Jersey) breeds. Using a defined dietary plan for selected Indian varieties, the diet dependent shifts in microbial community and abundance of the enzymes associated with methanogenesis were studied. This data has been compared with the available rumen metagenome data from Holstein and Jersey dairy cattle. The abundance of genes for methanogenesis in Holstein and Jersey cattle came from Methanobacteriales order whereas, majority of the enzymes for methanogenesis in Gir and Kankrej cattle came from Methanomicrobiales order. The study suggested that by using slow/less digestible feed, the propionate levels could be controlled in rumen; and in turn, this would also help in further reducing the hydrogenotrophic production of methane. The study proposes that with the designed diet plan the overall methanogenic microbial pool or the individual methanogens could be targeted for development of methane mitigation strategies.

Platelet corrected count increments by apheresis platform.

BACKGROUND: Automated blood collection platforms use different technological systems to isolate and collect individual blood components. These unique systems could potentially result in differences in platelet in vivo viability, as measured by the corrected count increment (CCI). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated CCI data of platelet transfusions among oncology patients who received multiple unmanipulated apheresis platelets between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2009. Apheresis platelets were collected from our community blood center by standard procedures using two different collection systems and were transfused to patients in a blinded manner. RESULTS: The CCI of the platelet recipient was significantly higher at 0-2 hours post-transfusion among the individuals who received platelets collected on Trima Accel (Terumo BCT) (mean = 6281, standard deviation = 3650) compared to the platelets collected by the Amicus system (Fresenius Kabi) (mean = 5251, standard deviation = 3311, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: These hypothesis-generating data suggesting improved recovery and survival of Trima Accel platelets demonstrate the need for the investigation and implementation of the best collection methods to provide better platelet transfusion support.

The impact of platelet additive solution apheresis platelets on allergic transfusion reactions and corrected count increment (CME).

BACKGROUND: Allergic transfusion reaction (ATR) incidence ranges from 1% to 3% of all transfusions. We evaluated the impact of InterSol platelet additive solution (PAS) apheresis platelets (APs) on the incidence of ATRs and the posttransfusion platelet (PLT) increment. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated all ATRs among patients at a university hospital that maintained a mixed inventory of PAS APs and non-PAS APs (standard plasma-suspended PLTs). Corrected count increments (CCIs) were calculated for AP transfusions of individuals who received both a PAS and a non-PAS AP transfusion within a 7-day period. Hypothesis testing was performed with chi-square test for dichotomous variables and t tests for continuous variables. RESULTS: The incidence of ATRs among the non-PAS APs was 1.85% (72 ATRs/3884 transfusions) and 1.01% (12 ATRs/1194 transfusions) for PAS APs (risk ratio [RR], 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.30-0.99; p=0.04). However, there was no difference in the incidence of febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions between non-PAS APs (incidence, 0.70%; 27/3884) compared to PAS APs (incidence, 0.59%; 7/1194; p=0.69). Among 223 individuals with paired non-PAS and PAS AP transfusions, the mean CCI at 1 to 4 hours after transfusion was 4932 (95% CI, 4452-5412) for non-PAS APs and was lower for PAS APs (CCI, 3766; 95% CI, 3375-4158; p ≤ 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in mean CCI at 12 to 24 hours between non-PAS (CCI, 2135; 95% CI, 1696-2573) and PAS APs (CCI, 1745; 95% CI, 1272-2217; p=0.14). CONCLUSIONS: PAS APs substantially reduce the number of ATRs. CCIs for PAS APs were lower immediately after transfusion, but not significantly different at 12 to 24 hours.