Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease: The Conjoined Twins.

Cancer and cardiovascular disease are the two most common causes of death worldwide. As the fields of cardiovascular medicine and oncology continue to expand, the area of overlap is becoming more prominent demanding dedicated attention and individualized patient care. We have come to realize that both fields are inextricably intertwined in several aspects, so much so that the mere presence of one, with its resultant downstream implications, has an impact on the other. Nonetheless, cardiovascular disease and cancer are generally approached independently. The focus that is granted to the predominant pathological entity (either cardiovascular disease or cancer), does not allow for optimal medical care for the other. As a result, ample opportunities for improvement in overall health care are being overlooked. Herein, we hope to shed light on the interconnected relationship between cardiovascular disease and cancer and uncover some of the unintentionally neglected intricacies of common cardiovascular therapeutics from an oncologic standpoint.

Epidemiology and prevalence of lean nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and associated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and cardiovascular outcomes in the United States: a population-based study and review of literature.

BACKGROUNDS: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome conditions. However, a subset of NAFLD patients express a normal or low body mass index (lean NAFLD [L-NAFLD]). Our aim is to compare the prevalence of L-NAFLD to the obesity-associated NAFLD in the United States by assessing prevalence, potential risk factors, liver-related complications, and coronary artery disease outcomes. METHODOLOGY: A multicenter database (Explorys Inc.) of >70 million patients across the United States was screened. A cohort of patients with "nonalcoholic fatty liver" between 1999 and 2021 was identified. Two sub-cohorts of NAFLD patients were identified: those with a body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg/m2 (L-NAFLD) and those with a BMI > 30 kg/m2 (obesity-associated NAFLD). We excluded patients with age <18 and those who have viral hepatitis, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, biliary cirrhosis, alcoholic liver disease, cystic fibrosis, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, and autoimmune hepatitis. Multivariate analysis was performed to adjust for confounders. RESULTS: 68 892 260 individuals were screened. NAFLD prevalence was four per 100 000, and L-NAFLD prevalence was 0.6 per 100 000. Compared with those without, patients with L-NAFLD tended to be older (OR 2.16), females (OR 1.28), and smokers (OR 4.67) and of Asian race (OR 2.12). L-NAFLD patients were more likely to have acute coronary syndromes (OR 30.00) and metabolic syndrome (OR 2.31) despite the normal/low BMI. Esophageal varices and hepatocellular carcinoma risks were high in both cirrhosis patients. CONCLUSION: This is the largest study to assess L-NAFLD prevalence in the United States. L-NAFLD are at a significantly higher risk for acute coronary syndromes, esophageal varices, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage With Gastritis and Pancolitis as the Sole Presentation for Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis Flare.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), previously known as Wegener granulomatosis, is a rare small vessel vasculitis affecting mainly Whites. The prevalence of GPA in the United States is estimated to be 3 of 100,000 individuals. Classically, GPA affects upper airways, lungs, and kidneys, with the upper airways being the most common site. Occasionally, other organs affected by GPA include eyes, skin, joints, and the nervous system. The gastrointestinal system is rarely affected; however, some cases have been reported. In this case report, we present a patient with hemorrhagic gastritis and pancolitis consistent with GPA and discuss features from the literature of gastrointestinal manifestations in patients with GPA.