Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) and takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) - A potential association.

Background: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection and takotsubo cardiomyopathy are increasingly recognized in the last two decades. Case reports have shown both entities can present concomitantly - however, little is known about their association. Methods: In this retrospective study we aimed to explore a potential association between SCAD and TCM using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. The odds of having TCM among patients with SCAD compared with those who did not have SCAD were calculated as an odds ratio. Conversely, the odds of having SCAD among patients with TCM compared with those who did not have TCM were also calculated. The primary outcome was the odds of TCM among patients with a primary diagnosis of SCAD and vice versa. The secondary endpoint was the odds of in-hospital mortality among patients with SCAD, and/or TCM. Results: Hospitalized patients who had SCAD were 7.12 (95 % CI: 6.28-8.08) times more likely to also have TCM than those who did not have SCAD (p < 0.0001).), while patients with TCM were 6.91 (95 % CI: 6.07-7.85) times more likely to have SCAD compared to those who didn't have TCM adjusted for age, gender, race, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: This data indicate that patients with either SCAD or TCM are seven times more likely to be diagnosed concomitantly with both, compared to the patients without either diagnosis [after adjusting for age, gender, race, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus]. Our data are consistent with the growing body of evidence supporting an association between SCAD and TCM and raise the question of a common pathophysiologic mechanism.

Non-surgical treatment of aseptic olecranon bursitis: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Olecranon bursitis (OB), characterized by inflammation and fluid collection in the olecranon bursa is a commonly encountered out-patient condition. The data is heterogeneous regarding a stepwise and standardized approach to aseptic OB treatment and the efficacy of intra-bursal corticosteroid injections (CSI). The objective of this review is to systematically evaluate the non-surgical treatment options for aseptic OB. METHODS: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA recommendations. The English and non-English literature search was performed in 5 medical databases to identify studies evaluating the treatment of OB. All included studies were evaluated for risk of bias (RoB) using the revised Cochrane RoB tool for randomized control trials (RCTs) and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for case-control and cohort studies. RESULTS: For the final analyses, 2 RCTs and 2 observational studies were included. The RoB for the RCTs was high and both failed to demonstrate a significant difference in terms of the resolution of OB and bursal tenderness among various invasive and non-invasive treatment options. Corticosteroid injection (CSI) was associated with a significant decline in the duration of symptoms. However, it was associated with a higher number of complications including bursal infection and skin atrophy. CONCLUSION: Based on the available data, it appears that the clinical resolution of aseptic OB can occur with conservative methods if implemented earlier in the disease course. Although CSI is more effective than other treatments, it should be reserved for refractory cases because of a higher complication rate.

Left atrial appendage closure using WATCHMAN device in chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease patients.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease are considered independent risk factors for developing atrial fibrillation (AF). Percutaneous occlusion of left atrial appendage (LAAC) using WATCHMAN device is a widely accepted alternative to anticoagulation therapy to prevent ischemic stroke in AF in patients who are not candidates for anticoagulation. There is limited data regarding the utilization and periprocedural safety of this intervention in patients with CKD/ESRD. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all hospitalizations from 2016 to 2017 with (ICD-10) procedure diagnosis code of LAA closure using WATCHMAN procedure with and without a secondary diagnosis of CKD/ESRD in acute-care hospitals across the United States using the national inpatient sample. Demographic variables (gender, race, income, hospital characteristics, medical comorbidities) were collected and compared. The primary outcomes were inpatient mortality, hospital length, and cost of stay. RESULTS: There were over 71 million discharges included in the combined 2016 and 2017 NIS database. Sixteen thousand five hundred five hospitalizations were for adult patients with a procedure code for LAA closure via watchman procedure. Of 16,505 patients, 3245 (19.66%) had CKD and ESRD. There was no statistically significant difference in mortality, length, and cost of stay in patients with and without CKD/ESRD. There were no statistically significant differences in periprocedural cerebrovascular accidents in both groups. CONCLUSION: Patients with and without ESRD/CKD who undergo LAA occlusion with Watchman have similar procedure related, in-hospital mortality, and complications.

Impact of colchicine on mortality and morbidity in COVID-19: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Colchicine, because of its anti-inflammatory and possible anti-viral properties, has been proposed as potential therapeutic option for COVID-19. The role of colchicine to mitigate "cytokine storm" and to decrease the severity and mortality associated with COVID-19 has been evaluated in many studies. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of colchicine on morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA recommendations. The literature search was conducted in 6 medical databases from inception to February 17, 2021 to identify studies evaluating colchicine as a therapeutic agent in COVID-19. All included studies were evaluated for risk of bias (ROB) using the Revised Cochrane ROB tool for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for case-control and cohort studies. RESULTS: Four RCTs and four observational studies were included in the final analysis. One study evaluated colchicine in outpatients, while all others evaluated inpatient use of colchicine. There was significant variability in treatment protocols for colchicine and standard of care in all studies. A statistically significant decrease in all-cause mortality was observed in three observational studies. The risk of mechanical ventilation was significantly reduced only in one observational study. Length of hospitalisation was significantly reduced in two RCTs. Risk for hospitalisation was not significantly decreased in the study evaluating colchicine in outpatients. Very few studies had low risk of bias. CONCLUSION: Based on the available data, colchicine shall not be recommended to treat COVID-19. Further high-quality and multi-center RCTs are required to assess the meaningful impact of this drug in COVID-19.KEY MESSAGESColchicine, an anti-inflammatory agent has demonstrated anti-viral properties in in-vitro studies by degrading the microtubules, as well as by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.Colchicine has been studied as a potential therapeutic option for COVID-19, with variable results.Until further research can establish the efficacy of colchicine in COVID-19, the use of colchicine in COVID-19 shall be restricted to clinical trials.

Acute Myocarditis From the Use of Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM) RAD-140 (Testolone).

Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) work at the level of the androgen receptor and are potential alternatives to testosterone supplementation in patients with hypogonadism. We report the case of a young male who presented with possible acute myocarditis from self-medication with SARM for bodybuilding.

Variation in clinical characteristics, outcomes, and mortality of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 during the second wave of the pandemic: a single-center experience.

As of February 2, 2021, the USA has 26,431,799 reported COVID-19 cases with 446,744 deaths. A high mortality rate (15%-40%) was reported among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic. However, data regarding variation in COVID-19-related mortality and severity of illness among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 are heterogeneous. In this retrospective single-center study, we aimed to investigate the demographic characteristics, clinical presentations, disease severity, clinical outcomes, and in-hospital mortality of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 during the second wave of the pandemic. Adults with reverse transcription-PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included. In-hospital mortality due to COVID-19 was the primary outcome, and intensive care unit admission, acute kidney injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, respiratory failure requiring intubation, and septic shock were the secondary outcomes. A total of 101 adult patients were hospitalized with COVID-19 during the second wave study period. Of 101 patients, 8 were intubated and 6 died. The median duration of hospital stay was 6 days. Patients in the second wave were more likely to receive dexamethasone and remdesivir and less likely to require invasive mechanical ventilation. In-hospital mortality during the second wave was lower (5.9%) compared with the first wave (15.5%). At the last follow-up date, 86.1% were discharged alive from the hospital, 5.9% died and 7.9% were still in the hospital. Multivariate logistic regression showed higher odds of mortality were associated with higher age and elevated lactate dehydrogenase peak.

The contemporary trends and geographic variation in premature mortality due to heart failure from 1999 to 2018 in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to examine the contemporary trends and regional variations in premature mortality due to heart failure across the U.S. from 1999 to 2018. BACKGROUND: For most U.S. census regions, it is unknown whether premature mortality (deaths among persons under age 65) due to heart failure is increasing -or decreasing. METHODS: In this descriptive study, the death certificate data were retrieved from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) database and examined from 1999 to 2018 for the underlying cause of death. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 100,000 persons and annual percent change (APC) in rates stratified by census region were calculated using Joinpoint trend analysis software. RESULTS: There were 118,116 premature deaths due to heart failure from 1999 to 2018 across the U.S. Of these 52.40% of deaths were reported in the South, 20.30% in the Midwest, 15.10% in the West, and 12.20% in the Northeast. The AAMRs were the highest in the South region (range: 3.1-4.9) and the lowest in the Northeast region (range: 1.5-1.9). There was an overall decline in mortality across all regions from 1999 till 2011-2012. However, mortality has an upward trajectory throughout all the census regions after 2012. CONCLUSIONS: This study on nationwide data showed that overall premature mortality due to heart failure declined from 1999 to 2011-2012 followed by an upward trajectory from 2012 to 2018; the explanation for this merits further discovery.

COVID-19 patients in a tertiary US hospital: Assessment of clinical course and predictors of the disease severity.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with severe COVID-19 can develop ventilator-dependent acute hypoxic respiratory failure (VDAHRF), which is associated with a higher mortality rate. We evaluated the clinical course of hospitalized COVID-19 patients and compared them with the patients who received invasive mechanical ventilation. Characteristics of intubated patients who were successfully weaned from the ventilator were compared with the patients who failed to be extubated or died in the hospital. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical course of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, and assess the possible predictors of the disease severity leading to VDAHRF. METHODS: This is a single-center, retrospective study. The first 129 patients (18 years or older) with COVID-19 admitted to Monmouth Medical Center from March 1st to April 25th, 2020 were included. RESULTS: Out of 129 patients, 23.25% (n = 30) required invasive mechanical ventilation, and of those, six patients were successfully weaned from the ventilator. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed increased odds of intubation associated with hypoxemia (odds ratio 17.23, 95% CI 5.206-57.088; p < 0.0001), elevated d-dimer by one unit mg/L of FEU (odds ratio 1.515, 95% CI 5.206-57.088; p = 0.0430) and elevated ferritin by one unit ng/ml (odds ratio 1.001, 95% CI 1.000-1.001, p = 0.0051) on admission, adjusted for other covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who required invasive mechanical ventilation were more likely to have older age, male gender, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and obesity. The patients who were successfully weaned from the ventilator were more likely to be younger in age, and none of them had heart failure or CAD.

E-cigarette or vaping product use associated lung injury, (EVALI) - A diagnosis of exclusion.

Inhalation of aerosolized products generated by different electronic devices is called vaping. E-cigarettes or Vaping product use Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) outbreak peaked in August-September 2019 and gradually declined. EVALI remains a diagnosis of exclusion which presents as an acute lung injury in the vaping population. Vitamin E acetate and its products are implicated as one of the cytotoxic agents causing airway centered pneumonitis. Lipid laden macrophages are found in samples of BAL fluid but their role in cytopathology of the disease remains unclear. We present a 57 years old man who came to the emergency department at Monmouth Medical Center, New Jersey in fall, 2019. Reportedly he has been vaping THC about 100g every day for past three days. At initial presentation, he had fever, shortness of breath and hypoxia requiring supplemental oxygen. He was empirically treated with levofloxacin 500 mg for five days without a significant improvement in his symptoms. Non-contrast chest CT scan showed bilateral ground-glass opacities, indicative of diffuse alveolar damage. He underwent flexible bronchoscopy to rule out infective pneumonia followed by auto-immune work-up that was non-conclusive. He was given 1 mg/kg methylprednisolone with a quick taper of oral steroids leading to the resolution of symptoms. At six months follow-up, imaging showed near resolution of ground-glass opacities.

Hilar lymphadenopathy, a novel finding in the setting of coronavirus disease (COVID-19): a case report.

BACKGROUND: As the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has progressed, computed tomography has emerged as an integral part of the diagnosis alongside reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assays. Frequently encountered imaging findings include peripheral airspace consolidations; bilateral ground-glass opacities; and, less commonly, cavitation. Hilar lymphadenopathy is a rarely reported finding in the setting of COVID-19. CASE PRESENTATION: A 73-year-old Caucasian woman presented to our hospital with fever and fatigue. She had a maximum body temperature of 102.3 °F with lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia. She was diagnosed with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection on the basis of a positive result from a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction of a nasopharyngeal swab sample. Contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography revealed multifocal, subpleural ground-glass opacities with nodular consolidations bilaterally. Computed tomography also demonstrated atypical bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, a rarely reported imaging feature of COVID-19. Chest computed tomography 1 month before the presentation did not show focal consolidations or lymphadenopathy. This indicated that the findings were due to the patient's severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. She received 5 days of oral hydroxychloroquine and experienced resolution of her symptoms. CONCLUSION: Chest computed tomography has been used extensively to diagnose and characterize the distinguishing radiological findings associated with viral pneumonia. It has emerged as an integral part of the diagnosis of COVID-19 alongside reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assays. Clinicians must be aware of uncommon clinical and radiological findings in order to diagnose this entity. Hilar lymphadenopathy is commonly seen with fungal infections, mycobacterial infections, and sarcoidosis. An extensive literature review found that bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy has not been reported in the setting of COVID-19. More data are needed to establish the clinical impact of this novel finding.

Pantoea agglomerans Bacteremia: Is It Dangerous?

Introduction. Pantoea agglomerans, an anaerobic Gram-negative bacillus, is a rare cause of opportunistic infections affecting premature infants to seniors. We present a 34-year-old man who was presented for the management of diabetic ketoacidosis and developed Pantoea agglomerans bacteremia after one week of hospitalization. Case Presentation. A 34-year-old African-American male with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus type I and recurrent skin infections was admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis. He had left upper extremity abscess, preliminary wound cultures were positive for Gram-positive cocci, and an initial set of blood cultures were negative. He was started empirically on vancomycin. One week after admission, he started having chills followed by a recurrent increase in body temperature to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. The wound was healing, without active infection. Chest X-ray and CT scan of abdomen and pelvis to rule out infection were negative. Repeat blood cultures showed P. agglomerans in both the tubes. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous ceftriaxone, and he recovered fully without any complication. Discussion. Pantoea agglomerans is a bacteria associated with plants; however, it can infect humans and vertebrate animals. The outcome seems favourable with the institution of appropriate antibiotics even in immunocompromised patients.