ABSTRACT
Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains a risk factor for heart failure (HF). Therefore, we aimed to assess the cardioprotective role of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors post-ACS in patients with acute HF (AHF) and diabetes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study employing propensity score matching. This study involved patients with diabetes admitted with ACS complicated by AHF, defined as either new clinical HF requiring diuretics during the index admission or having an ejection fraction (EF) of <40%. The study population was divided into two groups; (1) SGLT2 inhibitor users and (2) SGLT2 inhibitor non-users. The Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to evaluate the outcomes. Results: A total of 465 patients (93% male; mean age, 55 ± 10 years) were included in this study. Using a 1 : 1 propensity score matching, 78 patients were included per arm with an absolute standardized difference of <0.1 for all baseline characteristics. The use of SGLT2 inhibitors resulted in lower composite outcomes of ACS, HF hospitalization, and all-cause mortality at 1 month and 12 months [1 month: 2.6% vs. 11.5%, HR = 0.20 (0.04-0.94), p = 0.041; 12 months: 14.1% vs. 23.1%, HR = 0.46 (0.22-0.99), p = 0.046]. Conclusion: The findings suggest that SGLT2 inhibitors may confer cardioprotective effects in ACS-induced AHF, thereby widening the spectrum for indications of SGLT2 inhibitors.
ABSTRACT
The artery of Percheron (AOP), a variation of the thalamic vasculature, supplies both the thalamus and the midbrain. An infarct in this area is characterized by wide neurological abnormalities, the most common of which are altered mental state, decreased degree of consciousness, and memory impairment. AOP infarcts tend to be missed during the initial computed tomography (CT) scan. The number of reports on AOP infarction has been increasing, highlighting the range of clinical presentations and challenges that clinicians can face. This case study discusses a 58-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with stroke in AOP territory without any clear neurological symptoms, and it serves as a model for patients with similar conditions.
ABSTRACT
Internuclear ophthalmoplegia (INO) is a condition characterized by impaired ocular movement, leading to an inability to perform coordinated lateral gaze, resulting in ophthalmoplegia. This impairment results from damage to the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF), which can occur because of various types of lesions localized in the pons or midbrain. In this case, we report on a 67-year-old man with multiple comorbidities who arrived at the emergency department with complaints of sudden dizziness and an unsteady gait. During the examination, he exhibited left INO, which was characterized by limited left eye adduction and multidirectional nystagmus of the right eye when performing right lateral gaze.