Accuracy of stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in a district hospital.

Background: The European Society of Cardiology has published updated guidelines regarding pathways for diagnosis and management of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Non-invasive functional assessment, for example, by stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance (stress pCMR) is recommended in patients with intermediate pretest probability of disease. Previous pCMR studies were mainly performed in high volume university hospitals with experienced radiologists or cardiologists interpreting the images. Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a stress pCMR imaging service in a district hospital. Material and Methods: One hundred and thirteen patients with intermediate pretest probability of CAD referred for single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) at the regional hospital also underwent adenosine stress pCMR locally. The diagnostic analysis was compared to that of an experienced cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) center serving as a reference. Results: Inter-rater agreement between local readers and the reference reader was substantial to perfect for late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) (weighted kappa = 0.76 and 0.82), but only fair to moderate for pCMR (k = 0.34 and 0.51). No improvement in agreement between reference reader and local reader during the study was demonstrated. Conclusion: CMR is feasible in patients with intermediate pretest probability of obstructive CAD in the setting of a district hospital. However, as opposed to infarct detection with LGE, the interpretation of stress pCMR was more challenging. To establish this method, we suggest obtaining experience in close collaboration with a reference CMR center.

Outcome Analysis Of Total Laryngopharyngeal Oesophagectomy In Carcinoma Hypo-Pharynx And Cervical Esophagus, With Stomach Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Upper cervical oesophageal and hypo-pharyngeal malignancies pose significant challenges in surgical management. In advanced tumours total laryngopharyngeal esophagectomy (TLPO) and gastric pull up provides excellent result. METHODS: It is a descriptive case series and was conducted from Jan 2010 to Jan 2017. Thirty-five patients underwent TLPO. The inclusion criteria were; tumours of hypo-pharynx which allow tumour free resection margins and cervical oesophageal tumours not involving mediastinal trachea. There were no clinically palpable cervical lymph nodes. Patients with locoregional advanced disease and poor performance status were excluded. All cases underwent standard one stage TLPO with bilateral inter-jugular lymph nodal clearance. Minimal invasive techniques used in three cases. RESULTS: Out of 35 patients, n=21 (60%) of patient had lesion of hypopharynx with post cricoid involvement, n=13 (37.1%) had primary tumour of cervical oesophagus abutting pharynx and cricoid and only one patient had a tumour of hypopharynx with perforation. Histopathological conformation of diagnosis done in all patients preoperatively which showed Well differentiated Squamous cell in n=19 (54.28%), moderately differentiated squamous cell in 28.57% (n=10). Post-operative staging of the patients 74.28% (n=26) fall in stage 3. Operative time was less than 3 hours in 17 patients with two team technique, between 3-4 hours in 8 patients and more than 4 hours in 3 patients. SVT in 14.28% (n=5), Atrial Fibrillation in 5.71% (n=2). Chest complications including pneumothorax in 11.43% (n=4), basal atelectasis in 22.86% (n=8), pulmonary embolism in 2.85% (n=1), aspiration in 8.57% (n=3) and tracheal stenosis in n=1, 5.71% (n=2) cases had anastomotic leak. Postop 28 days mortality was 8.57% (n=3). CONCLUSIONS: TLPO with stomach pull up offer good results in patients with resectable disease with acceptable morbidity and mortality in operable patients.

Interplay of mitochondria apoptosis regulatory factors and microRNAs in valvular heart disease.

Valvular heart disease (VHD) is an active process involving a wide range of pathological changes. The major complications of VHD are stenosis and regurgitation, which are macroscopic phenomena, induced in part through cellular changes. Altered expression of mitochondria associated genes causes membrane potential depolarization, leading to the increased levels of apoptosis observed in cardiac dysfunction. Objective of this study is to find molecular medicine candidates that can control expression of the key mitochondria apoptosis regulatory genes. Present study aims to assess the way microRNA are involved in regulating mitochondrial apoptosis regulatory genes and observation of their expression in the heart valve dysfunction. Apoptotic genes PUMA and DRP1 were found to be highly expressed, whereas anti-apoptotic gene ARC was down regulated. The expression level of GATA-4 transcription factor was also reduced in cardiac valve tissues. MicroRNAs miR-15a and miR-29a were repressed, while miR-214 was up regulated. Furthermore, study showed that PUMA, DRP1 and ARC expression might be attenuated by their respective miRNAs. Our results indicate that mitochondria regulatory genes might be controlled by miR-15a, miR-29a and miR-214, in VHD patients. Present study may provide platform for future research regarding potential therapeutic role of miRNAs in CVDs.