Longitudinal effect of nocturnal R-R intervals changes on cardiovascular outcome in a community-based cohort.

RATIONALE: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is strongly linked to adverse cardiovascular outcomes (cardiovascular diseases (CVD)). Whether heart rate changes measured by nocturnal R-R interval (RRI) dips (RRI dip index (RRDI)) adversely affect the CVD outcomes is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To test whether nocturnal RRDI predicts CVD incidence and mortality in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort study (WSCS), independent of the known effects of SDB on beat-to-beat variability. METHODS: The study analysed electrocardiograph obtained from polysomnography study to assess the nocturnal total RRDI (the number of RRI dips divided by the total recording time) and sleep RRDI (the number of RRI dips divided by total sleep time). A composite CVD risk as a function of total and sleep RRDI was estimated by Cox proportional hazards in the WSCS. RESULTS: The study sample consisted of 569 participants from the WSCS with no prior CVD at baseline were followed up for up to 15 years. Nocturnal total RRDI (10-unit change) was associated with composite CVD event(s) (HR, 1.24 per 10-unit increment in RRDI (95% CI 1.10 to 1.39), p<0.001). After adjusting for demographic factors (age 58±8 years old; 53% male; and body mass index 31±7 kg/m2), and apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI 4%), individuals with highest total nocturnal RRDI category (≥28 vs<15 dips/hour) had a significant HR for increased incidence of CVD and mortality of 7.4(95% CI 1.97 to 27.7), p=0.003). Sleep RRDI was significantly associated with new-onset CVD event(s) (HR, 1.21 per 10-unit increment in RRDI (95% CI 1.09 to 1.35), p<0.001) which remained significant after adjusting for demographic factors, AHI 4%, hypoxemia and other comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Increased nocturnal RRDI predicts cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, independent of the known effects of SDB on beat-to-beat variability. The frequency of RRDI is higher in men than in women, and is significantly associated with new-onset CVD event(s) in men but not in women.

Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid-induced pancreatitis: case report.

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis is an acute inflammation of the pancreas that varies in severity from mild to life threatening usually requiring hospitalization. The true incidence of drug-induced pancreatitis (DIP) is indeterminate due to the inadequate documentation of case reports of DIP. Here we present the case of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid-induced pancreatitis in a previously healthy male after excluding all other causes of pancreatitis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 58-year-old Caucasian man presenting for acute sharp abdominal pain with associated nausea and heaves. Pain was non-radiating and worsening with movement. Patient had no constitutional symptoms. The only medication he received prior to presentation was amoxicillin/clavulanic acid as prophylaxis for a dental procedure with his symptoms starting on day 9th of therapy. Laboratory studies revealed mild leukocytosis, increased levels of serum lipase, amylase, and C-reactive protein (CRP). Abdominal computed tomography (CT) was notable for acute pancreatitis with no pseudocyst formation. Hence, patient was diagnosed with mild acute pancreatitis that was treated with aggressive intravenous (IV) hydration and pain management with bowel rest of 2 days duration and significant improvement being noticed within 72 h. On further questioning, patient recalled that several years ago he had similar abdominal pain that developed after taking amoxicillin/clavulanic acid but did not seek medical attention at that time and the pain resolved within few days while abstaining from food intake. All other causes of pancreatitis were ruled out in this patient who is non-alcoholic, non-smoker, and never had gallstones. Abdominal ultrasound and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) eliminated out the possibility of gallstones, biliary ductal dilatation, or choledocholithiasis. Patient had no hypertriglyceridemia nor hypercalcemia, never had endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), never took steroids, has no known malignancy, infection, trauma, or exposure to scorpions. CONCLUSION: This case describes a patient with DIP after the intake of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and when all other common causes of acute pancreatitis were excluded. Only two other case reports were available through literature review regarding amoxicillin/clavulanic acid- induced pancreatitis. We again stress on the importance of identifying and reporting cases of DIP to raise awareness among physicians and clinicians.

Zumba-induced Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or stress cardiomyopathy is characterized by transient left ventricular apical ballooning in the absence of coronary occlusion. The underlying pathophysiological mechanism is still unclear but possible causes have been proposed mainly catecholamine cardiotoxicity, followed by metabolic disturbance, coronary microvascular impairment, and multivessel epicardial coronary artery vasospasm. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy accounts for 1-2% of patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome with the majority of patients diagnosed with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy being women > 55 years of age. Here, we discuss the case of a 38-year-old woman presenting with typical chest pain, electrocardiography changes and cardiac markers consistent with acute coronary syndrome, who was subsequently diagnosed with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 38-year-old healthy American woman with negative past medical history presented to our Emergency Department with chest pain developing while participating in intense outdoor physical activities (Zumba) at a fundraising event. Our patient had typical substernal chest pain induced with exercise and was relieved by sublingual nitroglycerin in the Emergency Department. The pain started after 2 h of intensive Zumba workout. On review of her history, our patient was noted to be taking spironolactone 125 mg once daily for hirsutism for the past year. Our patient denied any family history of cardiac disease or heart failure. She admitted to being a former occasional smoker and to drinking alcohol socially. She denied any illicit drug use. She works as a social worker, and reported that she does not experience much stress in her life and denied any "one big life-changing event" or any major stressful news. While in the Emergency Department, our patient was hemodynamically stable and an electrocardiography was performed and showed sinus rhythm with no ST elevation/depression but noted T-wave inversion in leads I and aVL, and T wave flattening in leads V1 and V2. Her troponin levels were 0.294 and 0.231 consecutively. An echocardiogram was done and showed hypokinetic apical and mid-distal walls and hyperdynamic basal walls of the left ventricle with an ejection fraction of 35-40%, consistent with apical ballooning syndrome. Cardiac catheterization was subsequently done and showed depressed left ventricle systolic function, ejection fraction of 30-35% with anteroapical dyskinesia and no evidence of coronary artery disease. Our patient was diagnosed with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy after fulfilling all four of the Mayo Clinic's diagnostic criteria and was subsequently treated with a beta blocker, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: Our patient did not have one clear trigger for her overt Takotsubo cardiomyopathy other than the Zumba activity. Zumba is considered an activity with excessive sympathetic stimulation leading to catecholamine-induced microvascular spasm or through to direct myocardial toxicity, which is postulated to be behind the pathophysiology of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Another interesting finding in our patient was her use of spironolactone, as treatment for hirsutism, which is an aldosterone antagonist. Aldosterone actually potentiates the effects of catecholamine and thus activates the sympathetic system. Spironolactone can thus be considered as cardioprotective against the effects of catecholamine on the heart and that is why it is considered to be beneficial and subsequently improves mortality in chronic heart failure as described in several studies.

Expiratory Snoring Predicts Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Patients with Sleep-disordered Breathing.

RATIONALE: Sleep-disordered breathing and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are two common conditions that may present concomitantly. The effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on the polysomnographic manifestation of sleep-disordered breathing have not been studied. OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that the presence of airflow obstruction could be predicted by the presence of expiratory upper airway narrowing during sleep in patients with sleep-disordered breathing. METHODS: Ninety-three patients with sleep-disordered breathing (19 men; age, 51.6 yr; body mass index, 40.1 kg/m(2); apnea-hypopnea index, 37.4 events/h) were observed. Every patient had an in-lab polysomnography study and complete pulmonary function tests. Sleep and respiratory events were scored using American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommended scoring criteria. Expiratory snoring events were identified on polysomnography using microphone sensor and/or pressure flow sensor in each patient. The FEV1/FVC ratio less than 70 was used to define the presence of airflow obstruction. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The proportion analysis demonstrated that patients with expiratory snoring have 11 times higher odds of having evidence of lower airway obstruction, defined as FEV1/FVC less than 70 (odds ratio [OR], 11.03; P < 0.001), whereas smokers have increased odds by 13 times (OR, 13.18; P < 0.001). Spearman correlation analysis showed that FEV1 was positively related to mean SaO2 (P < 0.05) and negatively related to expiratory snoring, smoking, 3% oxygen desaturation index, 2% oxygen desaturation index, and age (P < 0.05). Epworth sleepiness scale, sex, and body mass index did not have any association with FEV1. The multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (FEV1/FVC < 70) correlated significantly with expiratory snoring and smoking (OR, 11.76; confidence interval, 3.23-42.83; and OR, 9.95; confidence interval, 2.67-37.09), respectively. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the linear combination of mean SaO2 and expiratory snoring (P < 0.05) predicted FEV1. However, age and 2% oxygen desaturation index did not predict FEV1. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of expiratory snoring predicts obstructive airway disorders. Patients with expiratory snoring and low mean oxygen saturation during sleep should be carefully assessed for pulmonary disorders such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.