Effectiveness of Gabapentin as a Benzodiazepine-Sparing Agent in Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome.

Background and Objectives: Gabapentin has shown promise as a potential agent for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of gabapentin as a benzodiazepine-sparing agent in patients undergoing alcohol withdrawal treatment in all the hospitals of a large tertiary healthcare system. Materials and Methods: Medical records of patients admitted to the hospital for alcohol withdrawal management between 1 January 2020 and 31 August 2022 were reviewed. Patients were divided into two cohorts: benzodiazepine-only treatment who received benzodiazepines as the primary pharmacotherapy and gabapentin adjunctive treatment who received gabapentin in addition to benzodiazepines. The outcomes assessed included the total benzodiazepine dosage administered during the treatment and the length of hospital stay. The statistical models were calibrated to account for various factors. Results: A total of 4364 patients were included in the final analysis. Among these, 79 patients (1.8%) received gabapentin in addition to benzodiazepines, and 4285 patients (98.2%) received benzodiazepines only. Patients administered gabapentin required significantly lower average cumulative benzodiazepine dosages, approximately 17.9% less, compared to those not receiving gabapentin (median 2 mg vs. 4 mg of lorazepam equivalent dose (p < 0.01)). However, there were no significant differences in outcomes between the two groups. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that using gabapentin with benzodiazepine was associated with a reduction in the cumulative benzodiazepine dosage for alcohol withdrawal. Considering gabapentin as an adjunctive therapy holds promise for patients with comorbidities who could benefit from reducing benzodiazepine dose. This strategy warrants further investigation.

Temporal trends, prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of heart failure in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the United States: Insights from the national inpatient sample.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to delineate the temporal trends, prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of HF among HCM patients using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, with a focus on optimizing therapeutic strategies and healthcare resources. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of anonymized data from the NIS spanning 2016 to 2019. The study population consisted of adults diagnosed with HCM based on specific ICD-10 diagnostic codes. Logistic regression was utilized to explore the association between HF and in-hospital mortality, adjusting for demographic and clinical factors. RESULTS: Our analysis included 215,505 individuals, with 97,875 (45.4 %) experiencing HF. Patients with HF exhibited a higher burden of comorbidities such as diabetes and renal failure, and had increased odds of mortality (OR 1.41). The study also highlighted significant demographic disparities, with marked differences in outcomes based on race and gender. The economic analysis revealed higher healthcare costs and longer hospital stays associated with HF. CONCLUSION: HF significantly impacts mortality, healthcare costs, and hospitalization length in HCM patients, with substantial demographic and clinical disparities. This study underscores the importance of tailored management strategies and the need for continuous surveillance and research to address the challenges posed by HF in HCM.

Unveiling Hidden Battles: Exploring the Link Between Breast Cancer Survival and Heart Failure Vulnerability.

This study explores the link between a history of breast cancer and the vulnerability to heart failure. Analyzing data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) for women diagnosed with breast cancer between 2016 and 2019 in the US, our research utilized logistic regression, adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and lifestyle factors, and employed propensity score matching. With 2,276,639 weighted cases, our findings reveal a slight but significant elevation in heart failure risk among the breast cancer cohort, specifically in acute, chronic, and isolated systolic heart failure types. Racial differences were pronounced; Black women with breast cancer showed higher risks for all heart failure types, particularly chronic and systolic, while Asian or Pacific Islander patients had a lower incidence of certain heart failure types. This research underscores a modest increase in heart failure risk post-breast cancer, highlighting the critical need for integrated cardio-oncology care and personalized healthcare approaches to address and mitigate this risk effectively.

Burden of Ischemic Heart Diseases among US States from 1990-2019.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) is a leading cause of global mortality, including in the United States. Understanding the burden of IHD in the United States is crucial for informed decision-making and targeted interventions aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality associated with this leading cause of death. This study aimed to understand the burden of IHD, identify gender disparities and risk factors, explore the relationship between socioeconomic growth and IHD, and analyze risk factor distribution across the states of the United States. METHODS: This study utilized data from the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2019, which provided comprehensive information on IHD from 1990 to 2019. Data related to IHD from these years were extracted using a query tool from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) website. The study assessed the relationship between IHD and socioeconomic development using the Socio-demographic Index (SDI) and measured the overall impact of IHD using Disability-adjusted Life Years (DALYs), considering premature death and disability. Additionally, the study analyzed the burden of IHD attributed to six main risk factors. Data analysis involved comparing prevalence, mortality, SDI, DALYs, attributable burden, and risk estimation among the states. RESULTS: Between 1990 and 2019, there was an improvement in socioeconomic development in all states. Age-standardized rates of disease burden for IHD decreased by 50% [ASDR 3278.3 to 1629.4 (95% UI: 1539.9-1712.3) per 100,000] with the most significant decline observed in Minnesota. Males had higher burden rates than females in all states, and the southeast region had the highest mortality rates. The prevalence of IHD showed a declining trend, with approximately 8.9 million cases (95% UI: 8.0 million to 9.8 million) in 2019, representing a 37.1% decrease in the Age-standardized Prevalence Rate (ASPR) from 1990. Metabolic risks were the leading contributors to the disease burden, accounting for 50% of cases, with Mississippi having the highest attributable risk. Arkansas had the highest attributable risk for high cholesterol and smoking. Conversely, Minnesota had the lowest burden of IHD among all the states. CONCLUSION: This study highlights variations in the burden of IHD across US states and emphasizes the need for tailored prevention programs to address specific risk factors and gender differences. Understanding the trend in IHD may inform policymakers and healthcare professionals in effectively allocating resources to reduce the burden of IHD and improve national health outcomes.

Racial and ethnic disparities in heart transplantation for end-stage heart failure: An analysis of the national inpatient sample (NIS) database.

PURPOSE: This study aims to examine disparities among heart transplant recipients in the United States, utilizing the latest data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of NIS discharge data (2017-2020), focusing on adult end-stage heart failure (ESHF) patients, identified using the ICD-10 CM code I50.84. Our analysis included four racial groups: White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian. We employed univariable and multivariate regression analyses to determine the unadjusted and adjusted odds of heart transplantation across these racial groups, using Stata version 14.2 for statistical calculations. RESULTS: Of 110,015 ESHF patients, 3,695 received heart transplants. Predominantly, recipients were male with a Charlson comorbidity index ≥3 and covered by private insurance. Transplants mainly occurred in large, teaching hospitals. Despite minor differences in age and median household income among races, baseline patient and hospital characteristics showed no significant variations. Compared to Whites, Blacks had a significantly lower transplant rate (AOR: 0.6; 95  % CI: 0.46-0.77; p < 0.001), while Hispanics and Asians showed no significant disparities. Mean ages varied slightly across groups (p = 0.0047), yet inpatient length of stay and hospitalization costs did not significantly differ. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight a significant disparity in heart transplant rates between Black and White ESHF patients in the U.S., with Black patients less likely to receive transplants compared to their White counterparts.

Diabetes mellitus impact on left ventricular assist device outcomes in heart failure patients: National Inpatient Sample study.

Aim: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a recognized risk factor for heart failure (HF), increasing the likelihood of requiring left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy. Objective: This retrospective cohort study aims to assess the impact of DM on LVAD patients, focusing on in-hospital mortality as the primary outcome. Methods: Utilizing the National Inpatient Sample administrative database, data from 11,506 adult HF patients who underwent LVAD implantation were analyzed. Results: Of the patients, 44.28% had diabetes. Adjusting for various factors, diabetic patients exhibited shorter hospital stays, lower admission costs and similar in-hospital mortality rates compared with non-diabetic patients. Conclusion: These findings enhance our understanding of the risks and benefits of LVAD therapy in patients with refractory HF and DM.

Efficacy and Safety of Mavacamten in the Treatment of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Current pharmacological options for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are not disease-specific; while it treats symptoms, mavacamten targets the underlying pathology. We aim to assess the efficacy and safety of mavacamten, a first-in-class cardiac myosin inhibitor, in symptomatic obstructive HCM. METHODS: This systematic review of the literature followed the PRISMA guidelines. Title/abstract and topics were searched using the following term: "mavacamten". The electronic research literature databases included the Cochrane Library, MedLine, and clinicaltrials.gov from July to August 2022. Primary efficacy endpoint was to assess clinical response at the end of treatment compared with baseline, defined as, at least one New York Heart Association (NYHA) class reduction. Two secondary endpoints from baseline were determined. The first was defined as improvement in mixed venous oxygen pressure (pVO2). The second was defined as reduction of the post-exercise left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient. RESULTS: We included in our analyses data from four studies that met our review eligibility criteria. There were three randomised placebo-controlled clinical trials and one non-randomised open-label clinical trial. All four studies showed a reduction in NYHA class from mavacamten use. Three out of four studies demonstrated >1 NYHA functional class improvement ranging from 34% to 80%, while only one study showed a smaller percentage of patients remaining at class 3. Three out of four studies measured pVO2 as an outcome, and all three studies noticed an increase in peak oxygen consumption after mavacamten treatment. Additionally, three out of four studies measured post-exercise LVOT gradient reduction as an outcome and all three found significant reduction in the post-exercise LVOT gradient after treatment. The most commonly observed adverse side effects were atrial fibrillation and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, but all participants recovered without long-term sequelae and only one patient dropped out of the trial. CONCLUSIONS: Mavacamten has a greater efficacy than placebo in the treatment of HCM. It also showed promising tolerability and efficacy profiles in the treatment of HCM in adults. The three endpoints used in the evaluation of studies were reduction in NYHA class, increase in pVO2, and post-exercise LVOT gradient reduction. Mavacamten showed greater reduction in NYHA, larger effects on increase of pVO2, and significant reduction of the LVOT gradient. Mavacamten was also found to be well tolerated, like the placebo. The side effect profile was limited for the majority of individuals taking mavacamten. In the future, authors recommended dose-optimisation studies, and studies that evaluate mavacamten both in comparison to, and in conjunction with other current treatments.

Evaluating the physical, psychosocial and ergonomic burden of lead aprons among Jordanian interventionists: a nationwide study.

Objectives. This study assessed the physical and psychological burden of lead apron use on Jordanian interventionists and investigated the attitudes and knowledge of interventional personnel toward ergonomic guidelines and practices. Methods. A cross-sectional investigation of a randomly sampled Jordanian cohort of interventional personnel was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire.Results. A nationwide sample of 130 practitioners with a mean 9.3 ± 8.1 years of experience in interventional procedures participated. Practitioners were aware of their apron's weight but not of its lead equivalence (71.5%). More than 60% of respondents complained of back pain. While 66.9% did not develop musculoskeletal pathologies, 64.3% of those with already established musculoskeletal pathologies experienced worse pain due to apron usage. Despite believing in the effect of lead aprons on muscular strain and work performance, 78.5% adhere to its usage. In terms of ergonomics, only 39.2% were aware of ergonomic guidelines; however, 90.0% believe that ergonomic practices are essential as 49.2% have experienced discomfort due to bad ergonomics. In terms of psychological burden, anxiety and depression were suggested in 16.4 and 21.6% of the sample.Conclusion. Jordanian interventionists portray positive attitudes toward lead aprons; nevertheless, their awareness of ergonomic practices warrants the implementation of evidenced-based interventions.

The Impact of War-Related Stress on Coronary Artery Disease Severity in War Survivors: A SYNTAX Study.

BACKGROUND: Due to the strong relationship between stress and heart disease, particularly acute myocardial infarction (MI), this study investigated the complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD) among Syrian refugee patients referred to Jordan University Hospital and its relation to war-related stressors. METHODS: This is a retrospective study that utilized the SYNTAX I score in order to evaluate all Syrian refugees that underwent coronary artery catheterization at Jordan University Hospital during the period between May of 2014 and December of 2017. RESULTS: There was a significant association between war-related stressors and high SYNTAX score (SX score), thus indicating a higher complexity of CAD in Syrian war survivors with higher stress scores. The strongest war-related correlation was observed with crossing green-lines, in which Syrian refugee patients who had crossed such lines had significantly higher SYNTAX scores. Regression analysis demonstrated that war stressors were positive predictors of increased SYNTAX scores even when adjusted for conventional CAD risk factors. Surprisingly, none of the CAD risk factors were significantly associated with SYNTAX score. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that exposure to multiple war-related stressors may increase the complexity and severity of CAD in Syrian war survivors. Thus, special attention, efforts, and resources should be allocated to screen for such vulnerable patients in order to provide them with the appropriate healthcare.

Differential Impact of Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Antagonist Versus Agonist on Clinical Safety and Oncologic Outcomes on Patients with Metastatic Prostate Cancer: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

CONTEXT: Androgen deprivation therapy is the mainstay treatment of metastatic prostate cancer, achieved mainly by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists or antagonists. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differential impact of GnRH agonists and antagonists on clinical safety and oncologic outcomes. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: This meta-analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A literature search using the electronic databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus) included randomized controlled trials comparing the clinical safety and oncologic outcomes of GnRH agonists and antagonists. The endpoints of interest were the following: (1) treatment-related adverse effects (AEs), (2) prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression, and (3) overall mortality. The relative risk (RR) was used as the summary statistic, and results were reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Eight clinical trials (20 published studies) comprising 2632 men met our inclusion criteria; of them, 1646 received GnRH antagonist and 986 had GnRH agonist. Treatment-emerging AEs occurred in 73% patients in the GnRH antagonist group and 68% in the GnRH agonist group (RR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04-1.15). Serious AEs occurred in 9.8% of the GnRH antagonist and 11% of the GnRH agonist group (RR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.73-1.17). Antagonists were associated with higher injection site reaction rates (38%) than agonists (4.8%). GnRH antagonist was associated with fewer cardiovascular events (RR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.34-0.80). There was no significant difference in PSA progression, but GnRH antagonist was associated with lower overall mortality rates than GnRH agonists (RR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.26-0.90, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Existing data indicate that GnRH antagonist use is associated with significantly lower overall mortality and cardiovascular events as compared with agonists. These findings should be interpreted with caution owing to the short follow-up duration and assessment of cardiovascular events as secondary endpoints in the included trials. Further studies are needed to validate or refute these observations. Injection site reactions were significantly higher in the GnRH antagonist group. PATIENT SUMMARY: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist is associated with lower death rates and cardiovascular events than GnRH agonists, based on the data from trials with short follow-up duration. GnRH agonists are associated with lower adverse events, such as decreased libido, hot flushes, erectile dysfunction, back pain, weight gain, constipation, and injection site reactions. There were no significant differences in prostate-specific antigen progression or fatigue.

Inflammatory bowel disease and prostate cancer risk: A systematic review.

Objective: To evaluate the risk of prostate cancer (PCa) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), focussing on ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) separately. Methods: A systemic search was carried out using PubMed and Web of Science databases following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We retrieved a total of 349 articles. All the articles were in the English language and investigated the incidence of PCa in patients with IBD. Results: Nine studies met our inclusion criteria, with a total of 205 037 men. Two studies reported an increase in the risk of PCa in men with IBD in general. Five other studies reported an increased risk of PCa in men with UC or with CD specifically. On the other hand, two studies reported a decreased risk of PCa in patients with UC and patients with IBD treated with aminosalicylates. Conclusions: While men with UC appear to have higher risk of developing PCa, data on patients with CD are inconclusive. Therefore, patients with UC may benefit from earlier PCa screening. Our findings confirm a complex interplay between IBD and PCa, including factors such as genetic predisposition, systemic inflammation and treatment effects. The modulatory effect of treatment strategies for IBD on the development and progression of PCa might be of clinical significance. Abbreviations: CD: Crohn's disease; CRP: C- reactive protein; FOLH1: folate hydrolase 1; GIT: gastrointestinal tract; IBD: inflammatory bowel disease; IL-6: interleukin 6; NOS: Newcastle-Ottawa Scale; PCa: prostate cancer; PRISMA: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses; PSMA: prostate-specific membrane antigen; UC: ulcerative colitis.

Testicular seminoma metastasis to duodenum. Misdiagnosed as primary duodenal tumor.

INTRODUCTION: Testicular cancer is the most common malignancy in Males aged 15-35 years. Its incidence comprises 0.8% of all Male cancers worldwide, with a mortality rate of 0.1%. Rarely it metastasizes to the retroperitoneum and invades upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Complications like intestinal obstruction, hemorrhage, and perforation are usually present. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report a 30 year-old male, presented to GIT unit with severe anemia due to upper GIT bleeding. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) documented duodenal growth. Histopathology findings of biopsy taken from the growth revealed, moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of duodenum. Abdominal computed tomogram (CT) scan showed retroperitoneal mass which could be primary duodenal tumor or para - aortic lymph node. The patient was referred to surgery unit for pancreatico - duodenectomy with the diagnosis of primary duodenal malignancy. In Surgery unit, a left testicular mass was discovered. Ultrasound revealed suspicious mass in left testis. Review of duodenal biopsy (by another pathologist) was asked for. Duodenal metastatic seminoma was the diagnosis which was confirmed by immunohistochemical Stains (that was not done before). Left testicular biopsy showed testicular seminoma .Patient was treated by high inguinal orchiectomy followed by chemotherapy. One year, later the patient had no GIT symptoms, was not anemic and started to put on weight. Follow up endoscopy showed no evidence of tumor in duodenum. There was no evidence of retroperitoneal growth by follow up CT scan. DISCUSSION: Testis lymphatic drainage is through para aortic lymph nodes .These are in contact with GIT. When testicular malignancy metastasizes to retroperitoneum it may invade GIT causing confusion whether symptoms are primarily from GIT, or they are primarily extra intestinal. CONCLUSION: High index of suspicion for testicular seminoma must be raised when treating young males with GIT complications like hemorrhage. Testicular seminoma is the most common solid tumor at this age. Sometimes it is the cause behind this complication.