Patent Foramen Ovale and the Risk of Cerebral Infarcts in Acute Pulmonary Embolism-A Prospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with a risk of consecutive paradoxical embolism with brain infarction through a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The aims of this study were to assess the rate of new ischemic brain lesions (IBLs) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during a 12-month follow-up period with anticoagulation and to evaluate the potential relationship with the presence of PFO on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventy-eight patients with acute PE underwent baseline contrast TEE with brain MRI. After the 12-month follow-up, 58 underwent brain MRI. The rates of MRI documenting new IBLs were measured based on the presence of PFO. RESULTS: PFO was detected in 31 patients (39.7%). At baseline MRI, IBL was present in 39 of 78 patients (50%). The presence of IBL was not significantly higher in patients with PFO than in patients without PFO (20 [64.5% patients with PFO] versus 19 [40.4% without PFO] of 39 patients with baseline IBL, P = .063). At the follow-up MRI, in the group with new IBL (9 of 58 patients, 15.5%), the number of patients with PFO was significantly higher than that without PFO (7 [33.3%] versus 2 [5.4%], P = .008). PFO was identified as an independent predictor of new IBL (odds ratio 4.6 [1.6-47.4], P = .008). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of PFO was associated with new IBL in patients with PE. These patients are at a higher risk of ischemic stroke despite effective anticoagulation therapy.

[Proton pump inhibitors and their effect on the bone]. / Inhibitory protonové pumpy a jejich úcinek na kosti.

INTRODUCTION: The proton pump inhibitors are commonly used drugs for the treatment of the digestive disorders. Many patients require long-term maintenance therapy. The prolonged acid inhibition is considered to be safe, but recently, the attention has been paid to the possible effects on the bone metabolism and the higher incidence of the fractures in patients using the PPIs.The aim of this work is to give a complex overview on the topic and analyse the source of information about the increased risk of the fractures. RESULTS: Several epidemiological studies describe the incidence of the fractures in the patients with PPIs. Further articles, mainly describing the effect of the bisphosphonate therapy for the osteoporosis, also track the PPI effects. The studies dealing with the articles on densitometry targeting on the effect of the PPIs on the bone metabolism are rare. CONCLUSION: It is not possible to unequivocally determinate the risks of the long term PPI therapy on bone based on the existing studies due to the heterogenous populations, multimorbidity of the patients and the concurrent medication. Untill now, no study has evaluated the incidence of the risk events based on the indication of the long-term therapy. Routine monitoring of the bone parameters during the PPI therapy is not recommended. The safety of the long-term PPI therapy should be based on the clear indication of the prescription.

Different clinical utility of oropharyngeal bacterial screening prior to percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in oncological and neurological patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to monitor oropharyngeal bacterial colonization in patients indicated for percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy (PEG). METHODS: Oropharyngeal swabs were obtained from patients prior to PEG placement. A development of peristomal infection was evaluated. The analysis of oropharyngeal and peristomal site pathogens was done. RESULTS: Consecutive 274 patients referred for PEG due to neurological disorder or cancer completed the study. Oropharyngeal colonization with pathogens was observed in 69% (190/274), dominantly in the neurologic subgroup of patients (P < 0.001). Peristomal infection occurred in 30 (10.9%) of patients and in 57% of them the correlation between oropharyngeal and peristomal agents was present. The presence of oropharyngeal pathogens was assessed as an important risk factor for the development of peristomal infection only in oncological patients (OR = 8.33, 95% CI: 1.66-41.76). Despite a high prevalence of pathogens in neurological patients, it did not influence the risk of peristomal infection with the exception for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriers (OR 4.5, 95% CI: 1.08-18.76). CONCLUSION: During oropharyngeal microbial screening prior to the PEG insertion, the detection of pathogens may be a marker of the increased risk of peristomal infection in cancer patients only. In neurological patients the benefit of the screening is limited to the detection of MRSA carriers.