The Role of Obesity as a Cardiac Disease Risk Factor in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally and is closely associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This review examines the interplay between obesity, T2DM, and CVD, highlighting the increasing prevalence and economic burden of these conditions. RECENT FINDINGS: Pharmacologic therapies, particularly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, show promise in substantial weight loss and subsequent reduction of adverse cardiovascular events in obese individuals with and without diabetes. Obesity significantly contributes to the development of insulin resistance and T2DM, further escalating CVD risk. The common co-occurrence of these three conditions may involve several other pathophysiological mechanisms, such as chronic inflammation, increased visceral adiposity, and endothelial dysfunction. Until recently, lifestyle modifications and bariatric surgery had been the primary methods for weight loss and mitigating obesity-associated cardiovascular risk. Newer pharmacological options have led to a paradigm shift in our approach to obesity management as they provide substantial benefits in weight loss, glycemic control, and cardiovascular risk reduction.

Echocardiographic Assessment of Degenerative Mitral Stenosis: A Diagnostic Challenge of an Emerging Cardiac Disease.

Degenerative mitral stenosis (DMS) is characterized by decreased mitral valve (MV) orifice area and increased transmitral pressure gradient due to chronic noninflammatory degeneration and subsequent calcification of the fibrous mitral annulus and the MV leaflets. The "true" prevalence of DMS in the general population is unknown. DMS predominantly affects elderly individuals, many of whom have multiple other comorbidities. Transcatheter MV replacement techniques, although their long-term outcomes are yet to be tested, have been gaining popularity and may emerge as more effective and relatively safer treatment option for patients with DMS. Echocardiography is the primary imaging modality for evaluation of DMS and related hemodynamic abnormalities such as increased transmitral pressure gradient and pulmonary arterial pressure. Classic echocardiographic techniques used for evaluation of mitral stenosis (pressure half time, proximal isovelocity surface area, continuity equation, and MV area planimetry) lack validation for DMS. Direct planimetry with 3-dimensional echocardiography and color flow Doppler is a reasonable technique for determining MV area in DMS. Cardiac computed tomography is an essential tool for planning potential interventions or surgeries for DMS. This article reviews the current concepts on mitral annular calcification and its role in DMS. We then discuss the epidemiology, natural history, differential diagnosis, mechanisms, and echocardiographic assessment of DMS.

Evaluation of relationship between serum lipids levels with colorectal carcinoma: a single center prospective case control study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate association of serum lipids and fasting plasma glucose levels with colorectal cancer. METHODOLOGY: This prospective case control study was conducted with 347 patients with colorectal carcinoma and 310 age and gender matched healthy controls who were examined for annual check-up. Total cholesterol, serum lipids and fasting glucose levels were measured in both groups. Body weight and body mass indices were also evaluated. RESULTS: The mean serum cholesterol level was 167.4 +/- 43.6 mg/dL for patients with colorectal cancer and 210.1 +/- 30.7 mg/dL for controls. The mean fasting plasma glucose levels for both groups were respectively 107.7 +/- 22.4 and 90.2 +/- 10.3. Between the colorectal cancer and control groups, there was a statistically significant difference in fasting plasma glucose and serum lipid levels except LDL-C. Serum total cholesterol level was even lower in advanced stages of cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that there is an inverse association between low serum total cholesterol levels and colorectal cancer. Since cholesterol levels were lower in the advanced stages of colorectal cancer it is possible that low levels of serum cholesterol levels were a consequence of colorectal cancer. The association with hypertriglyceridemia and high fasting plasma glucose levels suggest the role of hyperinsulinemia in colorectal carcinogenesis.

Pleural fluid amino-terminal brain natriuretic peptide in patients with pleural effusions.

BACKGROUND: Definite diagnosis of transudative or exudative pleural fluids often presents a diagnostic dilemma. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether amino-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in pleural fluid has a diagnostic value for discriminating heart-failure-related pleural effusions from non-heart-failure effusions. METHODS: Sixty-six subjects (40 male, mean age 61 ± 18 y) with pleural effusions were included. Samples of pleural fluid and serum were obtained simultaneously from each subject. Biochemical analysis, bacterial and fungal culture, acid-fast bacilli smear and culture, and cytology were performed on the pleural fluid. RESULTS: Subjects with heart-failure-related pleural effusion had significantly higher pleural NT-proBNP levels than other subjects (P < .001). Pleural and serum NT-proBNP measures were closely correlated (r = 0.90, P < .001). An NT-proBNP cutoff value of ≥ 2,300 pg/mL in pleural fluid had a sensitivity of 70.8%, a specificity of 97.6%, and positive and negative predictive values of 94.4% and 85.4%, respectively, for discriminating transudates caused by heart failure from exudates. Eight heart-failure subjects were misclassified as exudates by Light's criteria, 5 of whom received diuretics before thoracentesis. All misclassified subjects had pleural NT-proBNP levels higher than 1,165 pg/mL, which predicted heart-failure-associated transudates with 95.8% sensitivity and 85.7% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Pleural fluid NT-proBNP measurement in the routine diagnostic panel may be useful in differentiation of heart-failure-related pleural effusions and exudative pleural fluids with reasonable accuracy, especially in heart-failure patients treated with diuretics.

Superior and inferior gluteal artery perforator flaps in reconstruction of gluteal and perianal/perineal hidradenitis suppurativa lesions.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa is a debilitating disease with a tendency to form abscesses, sinus tracts, and scar formation. In this report, our experience with reconstruction of hidradenitis lesions of the gluteal and perianal/perineal area using superior and inferior gluteal artery perforator flaps (SGAP and IGAP) are discussed. PATIENTS: A prospective study was conducted in collaboration with the general surgery department for patients with gluteal and perianal/perineal hidradenitis suppurativa between December 2005 and May 2010. Data of each patient included age, sex, disease localization, duration of symptoms, comorbidities, size of defect after excision, perforator flap chosen, complications, and postoperative follow-up. RESULTS: Eleven SGAP and six IGAP flaps were used in 12 patients with gluteal and perianal/perineal involvement. There was one flap necrosis for whom delayed skin grafting was performed. The mean follow-up period was 20 months without recurrences. CONCLUSION: Patients with gluteal and perineal/perianal hidradenitis suppurativa are usually neglected by surgeons because of lack of collaboration of general and plastic surgery departments. Most surgical treatment options described in the literature such as secondary healing after excision and skin grafting prevent patients from returning to daily life early, and cause additional morbidities. Fasciocutaneous flaps other than perforator flaps may be limited by design such that both gluteal regions may have to be used for reconstruction of large defects. SGAP and IGAP flaps have long pedicles with a wide arc of rotation. Large defects can be reconstructed with single propeller flap designs, enabling preservation of the rest of the perforators of the gluteal region.

Paclitaxel-induced ST-segment elevations.

A 51-year-old woman presented with severe chest pain minutes after starting intravenous paclitaxel as a part of the systemic chemotherapy due to ovarian carcinoma. The electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed sinus rhythm with ST-segment elevations in inferior and anterior leads. The ST-segment elevations resolved immediately after sublingual nitroglycerine. Cardiac troponin T and CPK MB levels remained in the normal range at repeat measurements. It was presumed that in spite of standard premedication, paclitaxel had induced acute coronary syndrome with ST-segment elevations in this patient.

Inferior vena caval tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium in a patient with pancreatic cancer.

Venous thromboembolism is a common complication in patients with cancer and an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Idiopathic thrombosis, migratory or recurrent thrombophlebitis may be the first manifestation of an occult malignancy. While deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are the most common thrombotic conditions in patients with malignant disease, tumor thrombus may be seen in inferior vena cava, mainly in patients with renal cell carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, testicular tumors or adrenal carcinoma. Although pancreatic cancer is one of the cancers that are most strongly associated with thrombotic complications along with cancers of ovary and brain, there has been no report about presence of thrombus in the inferior vena cava in pancreatic cancer. We report a female patient with pancreatic cancer associated with tumor thrombus extending from the inferior vena cava to the right atrium.

Elevated cardiac troponin T is associated with increased left ventricular mass index and predicts mortality in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage renal disease have a high risk of premature death, which is due mainly to cardiovascular (CV) events. Elevated cardiac troponin T (cTnT) is related to increased left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and predicts poor outcome in chronic haemodialysis patients. We investigated the prognostic value of cTnT and its relationship with left ventricular mass in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. METHODS: Sixty-five CAPD patients (mean age: 56+/-12 years; 36% males) with no evidence of acute coronary syndrome in 28 days prior to the study were examined prospectively. After 48 months of follow-up, we evaluated total and CV mortality. RESULTS: During follow-up, 23 patients (35%) died (70% CV causes, 22% infection, 4% tumour, 4% unknown). In univariate analysis, concentrations of cTnT >/=0.035 ng/ml, increased LVMI, diabetes, serum albumin and age were all strong predictors of total mortality. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, cTnT >/=0.035 ng/ml and age independently predicted total mortality [odds ratio (OR): 4.31; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.16-16.04; P = 0.008 and OR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.02-1.15; P = 0.002, respectively]. cTnT level >/=0.035 ng/ml was the only independent predictor of CV mortality in multivariate logistic regression analysis (OR: 8.94; 95% CI: 2.23-35.88; P<0.005). There was a significant positive correlation between serum cTnT level and LVMI (rho = 0.41; P<0.002). Neither cTnI, CK nor CK-MB were related to total or CV mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum cTnT but not cTnI predicted total and CV mortality in CAPD patients. Elevated cTnT levels were also associated with increased LVMI.