Infective Endocarditis during Pregnancy-Keep It Safe and Simple!

The diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE) during pregnancy is accompanied by a poor prognosis for both mother and fetus in the absence of prompt management by multidisciplinary teams. We searched the electronic databases of PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE for clinical studies addressing the management of infective endocarditis during pregnancy, with the aim of realizing a literature review ranging from risk factors to diagnostic investigations to optimal therapeutic management for mother and fetus alike. The presence of previous cardiovascular pathologies such as rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease, prosthetic valves, hemodialysis, intravenous catheters or immunosuppression are the main risk factors predisposing patients to IE during pregnancy. The identification of modern risk factors such as intracardiac devices and intravenous drug administration as well as genetic diagnostic methods such as cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) next-generation sequencing require that these cases be addressed in multidisciplinary teams. Guiding treatment to eradicate infection and protect the fetus simultaneously creates challenges for cardiologists and gynecologists alike.

Computational Models Used to Predict Cardiovascular Complications in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: A Systematic Review.

Background and objectives: cardiovascular complications (CVC) are the leading cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Standard cardiovascular disease risk prediction models used in the general population are not validated in patients with CKD. We aim to systematically review the up-to-date literature on reported outcomes of computational methods such as artificial intelligence (AI) or regression-based models to predict CVC in CKD patients. Materials and methods: the electronic databases of MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and ScienceDirect were systematically searched. The risk of bias and reporting quality for each study were assessed against transparent reporting of a multivariable prediction model for individual prognosis or diagnosis (TRIPOD) and the prediction model risk of bias assessment tool (PROBAST). Results: sixteen papers were included in the present systematic review: 15 non-randomized studies and 1 ongoing clinical trial. Twelve studies were found to perform AI or regression-based predictions of CVC in CKD, either through single or composite endpoints. Four studies have come up with computational solutions for other CV-related predictions in the CKD population. Conclusions: the identified studies represent palpable trends in areas of clinical promise with an encouraging present-day performance. However, there is a clear need for more extensive application of rigorous methodologies. Following the future prospective, randomized clinical trials, and thorough external validations, computational solutions will fill the gap in cardiovascular predictive tools for chronic kidney disease.

"A Chain Only as Strong as Its Weakest Link": An Up-to-Date Literature Review on the Bidirectional Interaction of Pulmonary Fibrosis and COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly became a worldwide healthcare emergency affecting millions of people, with poor outcomes for patients with chronic conditions and enormous pressure on healthcare systems. Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) has been cited as a risk factor for a more severe evolution of COVID-19, primarily because its acute exacerbations are already associated with high mortality. We reviewed the available literature on biochemical, pathophysiological, and pharmacological mechanisms of PF and COVID-19 in an attempt to foresee the particular risk of infection and possible evolution of PF patients if infected with SARS-COV-2. We also analyzed the possible role of medication and risk factors (such as smoking) in the disease's evolution and clinical course. We found out that there is a complexity of interactions between coexisting idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis/interstitial lung disease (ILD) and COVID-19 disease. Also, patients recovering from severe COVID-19 disease are at serious risk of developing PF. Smokers seem to have, in theory, a chance for a better outcome if they develop a severe form of COVID-19 but statistically are at much higher risk of dying if they become critically ill.

Pandemic lockdown, healthcare policies and human rights: integrating opposed views on COVID-19 public health mitigation measures.

The issue of the COVID-19 pandemic occupies the agenda of the whole world. The pivot of this pandemic is a crucial element that has become almost as important as the virus itself, namely the lockdown. Although, the rationale for lockdown is well-sustained by strong epidemiological arguments, exploring the 'other' unwanted consequences of the contemporary COVID-19 pandemic is mandatory for coagulating a robust agreed position against the numerous problems generated by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Starting from the rationale of the lockdown, in this paper we explored and exposed the other consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic measures such as the use or abuse of human rights and freedom restrictions, economic issues, marginalized groups and eclipse of all other diseases. Our scientific attempt is to coagulate a stable position and integrate current opposing views by advancing the idea that rather than applying the uniform lockdown policy, one could recommend instead an improved model targeting more strict and more prolonged lockdowns to vulnerable risk/age groups while enabling less stringent measures for the lower-risk groups, minimizing both economic losses and deaths. Rigorous (and also governed by freedom) debating may be able to synchronize the opposed perspectives between those advocating an extreme lockdown (e.g., most of the epidemiologists and health experts), and those criticizing all restrictive measures (e.g., economists and human rights experts). Confronting the multiple facets of the public health mitigation measures is the only way to avoid contributing to history with yet another failure, as seen in other past epidemics.

The Second Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic Strikes during the Flu Season: An Awareness Perspective.

Coinfection with both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses seems to be a real and severe problem. However, coinfection is far from a simple matter, and cannot be considered having more unfavorable outcomes as a direct consequence. In reality, the aftermath is powerfully nuanced by the presence of risk factors and specific molecular mechanisms. Our objective was to raise awareness around the unpredictable association between COVID-19 pandemics and the upcoming flu season, and make arguments about the need to develop new routine testing protocols for both viruses, at least during the period with an expected high incidence. Our reasoning is built around the various impacts that the whole range of risk groups, common immunological mechanisms, and complex interactions, such as influenza vaccination, will have on patients' prognosis. We show that the more flawed clinical course is due to managing only one of the infections (and, subsequently, neglecting the other condition).

Symptomatic pericardial cysts and dilemmas in their diagnosis.

Pericardial cysts (PCs) or pleuropericardial cysts are rare congenital mediastinal lesions with an approximate incidence of one in 100 000 persons. Usually, they are asymptomatic, being incidentally discovered during a routine chest imaging examination or an autopsy exam. The study involved a retrospective evaluation of clinicopathological findings in a 6-year series of PCs, treated in the Clinic of Pulmonary Diseases, Iasi, Romania. A group of five cases of PCs, four females and one male, were evaluated. All patients displayed different symptoms, such as dyspnea, chest pain, chronic cough, fatigue, palpitation, and epigastric pain. The cystic lesions were located in the right and left cardiophrenic angle, in four cases, and in the central mediastinum in a single case. The lesions had a fluid content and a maximum diameter that ranged between 35 and 95 mm. The microscopic examination of the surgical resection tissues revealed a thin connective tissue wall without any associated smooth muscle cells. The loose connective tissue band was lined by a layer of mesothelial cells with no cellular atypia, which displayed discrete papillary projections, in one case. Although PCs are rare incidental findings, they should be considered in differential diagnoses of mediastinal cysts, especially as they are associated with non-specific symptoms. Furthermore, considering the possibility of development of severe complications, PCs should be thoroughly explored for suitable patients' management.

HPLC Analysis and Risk Assessment of 15 Priority PAHs in Human Blood Serum of COPD Patient from Urban and Rural Areas, Iasi (Romania).

One of the leading risk factors for environmental health problems is air pollution. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that this risk factor is associated with one of every nine deaths worldwide. Epidemiological studies conducted in this field have shown a solid connection between respiratory pathology and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure. COPD and asthma are respiratory diseases that were shown to have a strong association with exposure to PAHs. The purpose of the present study was to assess the serum levels of 15 PAHs in 102 COPD patients and to evaluate the results according to the residence environment of the investigated subjects. Analyses were carried out using a high-performance liquid chromatograph Nexera X2-Shimadzu Japan, which was equipped with an LC-30AD pump and an SIL-30AC autosampler. Spiked matrices, procedure blanks, spiked controls, and calibration standards in the acetonitrile were used as quality-assurance samples. Benzo(a)pyrene is the main representative of PAHs and was determined in higher concentrations in subjects with COPD versus the control group from the urban area (0.90/0.47 ng/mL) and rural area (0.73/0.44 ng/mL). The values obtained for the Benzo(a)pyrene-equivalent factor indicate a higher carcinogenic potential for patients diagnosed with COPD in urban areas compared to those in rural areas. These results could be due to traffic and vehicle emissions. This research identifies the need for legislative action to decrease semi-volatile organic compounds, especially PAHs, mainly in urban cities, in order to improve environmental management and health conditions.

Cardiovascular Involvement in Tuberculosis: From Pathophysiology to Diagnosis and Complications-A Narrative Review.

Although primarily a lung disease, extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) can affect any organ or system. Of these, cardiovascular complications associated with disease or drug toxicity significantly worsen the prognosis. Approximately 60% of patients with TB have a cardiovascular disease, the most common associated pathological entities being pericarditis, myocarditis, and coronary artery disease. We searched the electronic databases PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE for studies that evaluated the impact of TB on the cardiovascular system, from pathophysiological mechanisms to clinical and paraclinical diagnosis of cardiovascular involvement as well as the management of cardiotoxicity associated with antituberculosis medication. The occurrence of pericarditis in all its forms and the possibility of developing constrictive pericarditis, the association of concomitant myocarditis with severe systolic dysfunction and complication with acute heart failure phenomena, and the long-term development of aortic aneurysms with risk of complications, as well as drug-induced toxicity, pose complex additional problems in the management of patients with TB. In the era of multidisciplinarity and polymedication, evidence-based medicine provides various tools that facilitate an integrative management that allows early diagnosis and treatment of cardiac pathologies associated with TB.

The clinicopathological challenges of symptomatic and incidental pulmonary hamartomas diagnosis.

Pulmonary hamartomas (PHs) are the most common benign lung tumors. Usually, they are asymptomatic and incidentally discovered during assessment for other diseases or during the autopsy exam. In this context, we have performed a retrospective analysis of surgical resections in a 5-year series of patients diagnosed with PHs in the Clinic of Pulmonary Diseases, Iasi, Romania, aiming to evaluate their clinicopathological features. A total of 27 patients with PH (40.74% males and 59.26% females) were evaluated. 33.33% of patients were asymptomatic, while the others exhibited variable symptoms, such as chronic cough, dyspnea, chest pain or weight loss. In most cases, PHs presented as solitary nodules, predominantly disposed in the right upper lobe (40.74% of cases), followed by the right lower lobe (33.34%), and left lower lobe (18.51%). The microscopic examination revealed a mixture of mature mesenchymal tissue, such as hyaline cartilage, adipose tissue, fibromyxoid tissue, and smooth muscle bundles, in variable proportions, associated with clefts of entrapped benign epithelium. A dominant adipose tissue component was observed in one case. PH was associated with a history of extrapulmonary cancer diagnosis, in one patient. Although considered benign lung tumors, PHs diagnosis and therapy may be challenging. Having in mind the possibility of recurrence or their occurrence as a part of specific syndromes, PHs should be thoroughly investigated for an appropriate patients' management. Their complex significance and the correlation with other types of lesions, including malignancies, may be further studied, by more extensive studies of surgical and necroptic cases.

Safety and Efficacy of Minimum- or Zero-Contrast IVUS-Guided Percutaneous Coronary Interventions in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: A Systematic Review.

Conventional percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) frequently cause severe complications in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Low-to-zero contrast intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guided PCIs are promising alternatives in the CKD setting. We aim to systematically review up-to-date literature that have reported data and outcomes of low-to-zero contrast PCIs performed in CKD patients. We searched Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane databases for full-text articles that reported original data regarding efficacy and/or safety outcomes of IVUS-guided PCIs in patients with CKD. The quality of non-randomized trials included was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Six papers were included in the present systematic review: One non-randomized trial, two case series, and three case reports. Given the literature reported so far, contrast-free and IVUS-guided PCI procedures in patients with CKD appear to be safe (both in cardiac and renal outcomes) with a comparable efficacy to the conventional procedure, even in complex atherosclerotic lesions. No patient included in the mentioned studies showed renal function deterioration and did not need renal replacement therapy after the zero-contrast IVUS-guided percutaneous procedures. From a cardiovascular point of view, this technique proved to be safe in terms of cardiovascular outcomes. The undesirable consequences of conventional PCI in the CKD population might soon be effectively hampered by safer low-to-zero contrast IVUS-guided PCI procedures after a mandatory and rigorous evidence-based validation in long-awaited randomized controlled trials.

"Celebrating old age": an obsolete expression during the COVID-19 pandemic? Medical, social, psychological, and religious consequences of home isolation and loneliness among the elderly.

Since epidemiological arguments favouring self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic are widely recommended, the consequences of social isolation/loneliness of older people considered to be at higher risk for severe illness are neglected. We identified and described medical, social, psychological, and religious issues, indirectly generated by the COVID-19 lockdown. Mortality induced by SARS-CoV-2 and death from other "neglected" issues were put in balance. Arguments for strict lockdown from most European countries are compared with a relaxed approach, as has been applied in Sweden. Social isolation affects disproportionally the elderly, transforming it into a public health concern. One witnesses openly ageist discourse, while painful decisions to prioritising ventilation for younger patients deepens the sense of hopelessness. Fear has led to anxiety disorders and depression. Various religious practices provide resources for coping with isolation/overcoming loneliness. Higher levels of mortality/morbidity due to "COVID-19 versus non-COVID-19" polarisation oblige the healthcare community to find ways to provide proper care for its elders.

Procedural Success Prediction Scoring Systems Used in Percutaneous Coronary Interventions for Chronic Total Occlusions: A Systematic Evaluation.

(1) Background: Data suggest that patients with coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) managed with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) could have better outcomes than those treated with optimal medical therapy alone. We aimed to systematically review dedicated scoring systems used to predict successful PCI in patients with CTO. (2) Methods: Electronic databases of MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, and Cochrane were searched. (3) Results: 32 studies were included. We provided insights into all available predictive models of PCI success in CTO including predictive performance, validations, and comparisons between different scores and models' limitations. Considering the differences in the population included, coronary lesions, and techniques applied across clinical studies, the most used scores displayed a modest to good predictive value, as follows: J-CTO (AUC, 0.55-0.868), PROGRESS-CTO (AUC, 0.557-0.788), CL (AUC, 0.624-0.800), CASTLE (AUC, 0.633-0.68), and KCCT (AUC, 0.703-0.776). As PCI for CTO is one of the most complex interventions, using dedicated scoring systems could ensure an adequate case selection as well as preparation for an appropriate recanalization technique in order to increase chances of successful procedure. (4) Conclusion: Clinical models appear to be valuable tools for the prediction of PCI success in CTO patients. Clinicians should be aware of the limitations of each model and should be able to correctly select the most appropriate score according to real-life case particularities such as lesion complexity and operator experience in order to maximize success and achieve the best patients' outcomes.

Halotherapy-An Ancient Natural Ally in the Management of Asthma: A Comprehensive Review.

The increasing production of modern medication emerges as a new source of environmental pollution. The scientific community is interested in developing alternative, ecological therapies in asthma. Halotherapy proved its benefits in asthma diagnosis, treatment, and prevention and may represent a reliable therapeutic addition to the allopathic treatment, due to its ecological and environment-friendly nature, in order to prevent or prolong the time to exacerbations in patients with asthma. We aimed to review up-to-date research regarding halotherapy benefits in asthma comprehensively. We searched the electronic databases of PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE for studies that evaluated the exposure of asthmatic patients to halotherapy. Eighteen original articles on asthma were included. Five studies in adults and five in children assessed the performance of hypertonic saline bronchial challenges to diagnose asthma or vocal cord dysfunction in asthmatic patients. Three papers evaluated the beneficial effects of halotherapy on mucociliary clearance in asthmatic adults. The therapeutic effect of halotherapy on acute or chronic asthma was appraised in three studies in adults and one in children. The preventive role was documented in one paper reporting the ability of halotherapy to hinder nocturnal asthma exacerbations. All studies seem to sustain the overall positive effects of halotherapy as adjuvant therapy on asthma patients with no reported adverse events. Halotherapy is a crucial natural ally in asthma, but further evidence-based studies on larger populations are needed.

A Systematic Review on the Correlations between Left Atrial Strain and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients.

Left atrial strain (LASr) represents a relatively new but promising technique for left atrial and left ventricle function evaluation. LASr was strongly linked to myocardial fibrosis and endocardial thickness, suggesting the utility of LASr in subclinical cardiac dysfunction detection. As CKD negatively impacts cardiovascular risk and mortality, underlying structural and functional abnormalities of cardiac remodeling are widely investigated. LASr could be used in LV diastolic dysfunction grading with an excellent discriminatory power. Our objectives were to assess the impact and existing correlations between LASr and cardiovascular outcomes, as reported in clinical trials, including patients with CKD. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for full-text papers. As reported in clinical studies, LASr was associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including cardiovascular death and major adverse cardiovascular events (HR 0.89, 95% CI, 0.84-0.93, p < 0.01), paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (OR 0.847, 95% CI, 0.760-0.944, p = 0.003), reduced exercise capacity (AUC 0.83, 95% CI, 0.78-0.88, p < 0.01), diastolic dysfunction (p < 0.05), and estimated pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (p < 0.001). Despite limitations attributed to LA deformation imaging (image quality, inter-observer variability, software necessity, learning curve), LASr constitutes a promising marker for cardiovascular events prediction and risk evaluation in patients with CKD.

Corticosteroids in SARS-COV2 infection: certainties and uncertainties in clinical practice.

INTRODUCTION: The SARS-COV-2 pandemic is a worldwide public health problem due to the large medical burden and limited number of therapies available. Corticosteroids have a rather unclear efficacy in viral non-SARS-COV-2 pneumonias and therefore their use is not universally recommended. In SARS-COV-2 pneumonia however, it is expected that they can reduce the deleterious consequences of the virus-related systemic inflammation. AREAS COVERED: a MEDLINE search covering the period 1995-2020 was completed to identify relevant papers. SARS-COV-2 pathogenesis is very complex and is represented by the interplay of many cytokine-driven inflammation pathways. Its most severe form so called cytokine storm, is an exaggerate reaction of the host infected by the virus rapidly resulting in multiple organ dysfunction (MODS). Corticosteroids have the potential to blunt the inflammation response in such patients, but their efficacy is not the same for all patients. Further on the certainties and uncertainties regarding the efficacy of this therapy in SARS-COV-2 pneumonia are discussed. EXPERT OPINION: In patients with severe SARS-COV-2 pneumonia, corticosteroids can be efficacious, but it is still not clear if they can be safely used in patients with comorbid cardiovascular disease or how the optimal duration of therapy can be established.

Pharmacological strategies for smoking cessation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pragmatic review.

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is progressive inflammatory disease of the lungs in which smoking plays a significant pathogenic role. Smoking cessation is the only therapeutic intervention which was demonstrated to interfere with disease progression. Smoking cessation intervention can benefit from pharmacological therapies such as nicotine replacement therapies, bupropion, or varenicline which can be given individually or in combination, their effectiveness being demonstrated in various clinical trials enrolling COPD patients.Areas covered: The authors provide a pragmatic discussion of the clinical data of the main studies evaluating therapies for smoking cessation within COPD starting with the seminal Lung Health Study and continuing with more recent ones.Expert opinion: Smoking cessation is one of the most difficult therapeutic interventions in COPD, despite having the highest impact on disease progression and despite the demonstrated benefit of the discussed pharmacological therapies. Potential approaches to maximize its chance of success might be represented by prolonging the time of administration, combinational options, or sequential pharmacotherapy.

Tuberculosis and COVID-19: Lessons from the Past Viral Outbreaks and Possible Future Outcomes.

Background: The threat of contagious infectious diseases is constantly evolving as demographic explosion, travel globalization, and changes in human lifestyle increase the risk of spreading pathogens, leading to accelerated changes in disease landscape. Of particular interest is the aftermath of superimposing viral epidemics (especially SARS-CoV-2) over long-standing diseases, such as tuberculosis (TB), which remains a significant disease for public health worldwide and especially in emerging economies. Methods and Results: The PubMed electronic database was systematically searched for relevant articles linking TB, influenza, and SARS-CoV viruses and subsequently assessed eligibility according to inclusion criteria. Using a data mining approach, we also queried the COVID-19 Open Research Dataset (CORD-19). We aimed to answer the following questions: What can be learned from other coronavirus outbreaks (focusing on TB patients)? Is coinfection (TB and SARS-CoV-2) more severe? Is there a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2? How does the TB vaccine affect COVID-19? How does one diagnosis affect the other? Discussions. Few essential elements about TB and SARS-CoV coinfections were discussed. First, lessons from past outbreaks (other coronaviruses) and influenza pandemic/seasonal outbreaks have taught the importance of infection control to avoid the severe impact on TB patients. Second, although challenging due to data scarcity, investigating the pathological pathways linking TB and SARS-CoV-2 leads to the idea that their coexistence might yield a more severe clinical evolution. Finally, we addressed the issues of vaccination and diagnostic reliability in the context of coinfection. Conclusions: Because viral respiratory infections and TB impede the host's immune responses, it can be assumed that their lethal synergism may contribute to more severe clinical evolution. Despite the rapidly growing number of cases, the data needed to predict the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with latent TB and TB sequelae still lies ahead. The trial is registered with NCT04327206, NCT01829490, and NCT04121494.

A curious case of yellow nail syndrome.

The Yellow Nail Syndrome is a rare clinical entity, first described in 1967 by P.D. Samman and W.F. White. The triad slow-growing dystrophic yellow nails, lymphedema and chronic respiratory disorders is the typical manifestation of the disease but some variations have been described as well as associations with chylothorax, chylous ascites, intestinal lymphangiectasia, thyroid abnormalities, malignancies and immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency. We present a case of a 55-years-old woman that had an insidious onset of respiratory disorders and chronic sinusitis, suspected to be infectious throughout the hospitalizations, associated with therapeutically neglected autoimmune thyroiditis.