Outcomes and Associated Extracardiac Malformations in Neonates from Colombia with Severe Congenital Heart Disease.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a common structural anomaly, affecting ~ 1% of live births worldwide. Advancements in medical and surgical management have significantly improved survival for children with CHD, however, extracardiac malformations (ECM) continue to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Despite clinical significance, there is limited literature available on ECM in neonates with CHD, especially from Latin America. A cross-sectional study of neonates with severe CHD evaluated by the medical-surgical board team at Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia from 2014 to 2019 was completed to characterize morbidity, mortality, surgical outcomes, and ECM. Demographics and surgical outcomes were compared between neonates with and without ECM. Medical record data were abstracted and descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Of 378 neonates with CHD, 262 had isolated CHD (69.3%) and 116 had ECM (30.7%). The most common ECM was gastrointestinal (n = 18, 15.5%) followed by central nervous system (n = 14, 12%). Most neonates required a biventricular surgical approach (n = 220, 58.2%). Genetic testing was performed more often for neonates with ECM (n = 65, 56%) than neonates with isolated CHD (n = 14, 5.3%). Neonates with ECM had lower birth weight, longer hospital stays, and higher postsurgical complications rates. There was no difference in survival between groups. Overall, Screening for ECM in neonates with CHD is important and identification of ECM can guide clinical decision-making. These findings have important implications for pediatric healthcare providers, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where the burden of CHD is high and resources for managing CHD and extracardiac malformations may be limited.

Delphinidin-Rich Maqui Berry Extract (Delphinol®) Lowers Fasting and Postprandial Glycemia and Insulinemia in Prediabetic Individuals during Oral Glucose Tolerance Tests.

Delphinidin anthocyanins have previously been associated with the inhibition of glucose absorption. Blood glucose lowering effects have been ascribed to maqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis) extracts in humans after boiled rice consumption. In this study, we aimed to explore whether a standardized delphinidin-rich extract from maqui berry (Delphinol) affects glucose metabolism in prediabetic humans based on glycemia and insulinemia curves obtained from an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) after a challenge with pure glucose. Volunteers underwent four consecutive OGTTs with at least one week washout period, in which different doses of Delphinol were administered one hour before glucose intake. Delphinol significantly and dose-dependently lowered basal glycemia and insulinemia. Lower doses delayed postprandial glycemic and insulinemic peaks, while higher doses reversed this tendency. Glycemia peaks were dose-dependently lowered, while insulinemia peaks were higher for the lowest dose and lower for other doses. The total glucose available in blood was unaffected by treatments, while the total insulin availability was increased by low doses and decreased by the highest dose. Taken together, these open exploratory results suggest that Delphinol could be acting through three possible mechanisms: by inhibition of intestinal glucose transporters, by an incretin-mediated effect, or by improving insulin sensitivity.

Utilización del stent pospérdida tardía en la angioplastia con balón en pacientes con cardiolatía isquemica crónica spostar / Stent utilization for late loss following balloon angioplasty in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease

La cardiopatía isquémica de origen ateroesclerótico tiene indicación de tratamiento farmacológico, de angioplastia con balón y colocación de stent coronario o la cirugía de revascularización. Evaluar la necesidad de stent coronario pospérdida tardía en la angioplastia con balón en pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica crónica. Se determinó la pérdida tardía posangioplastia con balón, en diferentes tiempos, con el ultrasonido coronario (IVUS) y angiográfico. Se estudiaron prospectivamente 21 pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica crónica ateroesclerótica (B2, C), en ASCARDIO, de febrero 2002 a julio 2008. Se realizó angiografía coronaria y IVUS. Se utilizó programa SPSS versión 15.0; para el análisis de datos: frecuencias, porcentajes, promedios, desviación estándar; t de Student, prueba de Wilcoxon (z), con 0,05 de significación estadística. Hubo predominio de género masculino, con 49 a 58 años. Como factores de riesgo: hipertensión arterial sistémica (85,7%), dislipidemia (80,9%), consumo de tabaco (47,6%), diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (38,1%). La arteria descendente anterior fue la más tratada. Se encontró lesión arterial coronaria B2 (47,6%), C (52,4%) con alta producción de disecciones posangioplastia con balón clase A (19,0%),B (33,3%), C (19,0%). Con incidencia de retroceso elástico de 29,5%. Todos requirieron Stent. El severo grado ateroesclerótico de las lesiones coronarias de 21 pacientes explicaría el alto grado de complicaciones posterior a la angioplastia con balón y el alto porcentaje de retroceso elástico hallado. Se evidencia la utilidad del uso del IVUS para la obtención de un mejor diagnóstico y cuantificación de la lesión, escogencia del tamaño del stent e impactación adecuada en el vaso coronario.

Ischemic heart disease of atherosclerotic origin is an indication for drug treatment, balloon angioplasty and coronary stenting or bypass surgery. To evaluate the need forcoronary stent use for late loss following balloon angioplasty in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease. Llate loss was determined post-balloon angioplasty, at different times, with coronary ultrasound(IVUS) and angiography. We prospectively studied 21 patients with chronic atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (B2,C), ASCARDIO, from February 2002 to July 2008. We performed coronary angiography and IVUS. We used SPSS version 15.0, fordata analysis: frequencies, percentages, averages, standard deviation,Student t test, Wilcoxon test (z), with 0.05 statistical significance.There was a male predominance, from 49 to 58 years ofage. Risk factors: systemic hypertension (85.7%), dyslipidaemia(80.9%), tobacco use (47.6%), and Type 2 diabetes (38.1 %). The anterior descending artery was treated the most. The following coronary arterial lesions were found: B2 (47.6%), C (52.4%) witha high occurrence of dissections post-balloon angioplasty class A(19,0%), B (33.3%), C (19.0%). The incidence of elastic recoilwas 29.5%. All required stents. The degree of severe atherosclerotic coronary lesions in 21 patients explains the high rate of complications after balloon angioplasty and the high percentage of elastic recoil found. This study demonstrates the utility of using IVUS to obtain a better diagnosis, quantification of the injury, choice of stent size and proper implantation in the coronary vessel.

Evidence of subpopulations with different levels of insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is non-uniformly associated with insulin resistance (IR). We examined IR in women with PCOS. METHODS: Sixty-nine PCOS women were subjected to the insulin suppression test (IST) to determine their steady-state plasma glucose (SSPG) as a direct measure of insulin sensitivity. RESULTS: SSPG exhibited a multimodal distribution suggesting the existence of subpopulations. The heterogeneous distribution of plasma glucose at 180 min (P = 0.011), with three modes, suggested differences in the plasma glucose level trajectories during the IST. Hence, the population was separated into three groups: (i) (n = 33), subjects with SSPG < or = 152.5 mg/dl, corresponding to the first to fifth deciles; (ii) (n = 29), subjects in the interval 152.5 mg/dl < SSPG < or = 300 mg/dl; (iii) (n = 7), subjects with SSPG > 300 mg/dl, corresponding to the tenth decile. Plasma glucose distributions at 180 min showed differences in their mean values and ranges among groups (P < 0.0001). The trajectories of the groups differed significantly during the IST (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: insulin sensitivity in our patients exhibited a discontinuous distribution, implying that PCOS is a heterogeneous disorder possessing subpopulations regarding IR.