Intravenous Magnesium Sulfate Reduces the Need for Antiarrhythmics during Acute-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in Emergency and Critical Care.

Several studies have suggested the potential role of Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4) for the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) but, in clinical practice, the use of magnesium is not standardized although it is largely used for the treatment of supraventricular arrhythmias. Objectives. We evaluated the role of MgSO4 infusion in association with flecainide in cardioversion of patients presenting in ED with symptomatic AF started less than 48 h before. We retrospectively searched for all patients presented in ED from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019 requiring pharmacological cardioversion with flecainide 2 mg/kg. Ninety-seven patients met these criteria, 46 received the administration of intravenous MgSO4 2 gr (Group A), and 51 did not (Group B). Among the 97 patients, the overall cardioversion rate was 85.6%, 91.3% in Group A and 80.4% in Group B. In 27 patients out of 97, the Flecainide was not administered because of spontaneous restoration of sinus rhythm of 9 pts (Group B) and 18 pts (Group A). We also found a statistical significance in the HR at the time of cardioversion between Group A (77.8 ± 19.1 bpm) and Group B (87 ± 21.7 bpm). No complications emerged. The association between MgSO4 and Flecainide has not yielded statistically significant results. However, in consideration of its high safety profile, MgSO4 administration may play a role in ED cardioversion of acute onset AF, reducing the need for antiarrhythmic medications and electrical cardioversion procedures, relieving symptoms reducing heart rate, and reducing the length of stay in the ED.

Immunopathology of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Focus on T Regulatory and B Cell Responses in Children Compared with Adults.

While the clinical impact of COVID-19 on adults has been massive, the majority of children develop pauci-symptomatic or even asymptomatic infection and only a minority of the latter develop a fatal outcome. The reasons of such differences are not yet established. We examined cytokines in sera and Th and B cell subpopulations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 40 children (<18 years old), evaluating the impact of COVID-19 infection during the pandemic's first waves. We correlated our results with clinical symptoms and compared them to samples obtained from 16 infected adults and 7 healthy controls. While IL6 levels were lower in SARS-CoV-2+ children as compared to adult patients, the expression of other pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IFNγ and TNFα directly correlated with early age infection and symptoms. Th and B cell subsets were modified during pediatric infection differently with respect to adult patients and controls and within the pediatric group based on age. Low levels of IgD− CD27+ memory B cells correlated with absent/mild symptoms. On the contrary, high levels of FoxP3+/CD25high T-Regs associated with a moderate−severe clinical course in the childhood. These T and B cells subsets did not associate with severity in infected adults, with children showing a predominant expansion of immature B lymphocytes and natural regulatory T cells. This study shows differences in immunopathology of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children compared with adults. Moreover, these data could provide information that can drive vaccination endpoints for children.

Hip Fracture Risk in Elderly With Non-End-Stage Chronic Kidney Disease: A Fall Related Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of fracture as a consequence of trauma and its association with kidney function status in a cohort of elderly patients. METHODS: This is an observational, cross-sectional study. We evaluated all fall-related trauma of patients ≥ 65 years in the emergency department (ED) between 2016 and 2018. According to CDK-EPI formula, we stratified the study population in different stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) for glomerular filtrate rate (GFR) ≥ 15 and < 60, not on hemodialysis. The hip fracture rate was adjusted at multivariate analysis for age, sex, comorbid conditions, and CKD status. RESULTS: We enrolled 5620 patients: 3482 patients had GFR ≥60, 1045 had GFR ≥45 and <60, 722 had GFR ≥30 and <45, and 371 had GFR ≥15 and <30. We recorded 636 (11.3%) hip fractures. After adjusting for significant covariates (age, sex, known osteoporosis, osteoporosis therapy, anemia, and dementia), patients with GFR ≥ 45 and <60 and GFR ≥30 and <45 exhibited an increased risk of femur fracture (odds ratio 2.01 [1.36-2.97] and 1.64 [1.08-2.48], respectively). Patients with GFR ≥15 and <30 had a higher risk of fracture, although not reaching statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that patients with non-end stage CKD have an increased risk of femur fracture after a fall. Our data supports the hypothesis that this risk could be associated with increased bone fragility in CKD patients. Active osteoporosis therapy was found to be an effective preventive factor in our cohort.

Unusual malposition of a peripherally inserted central catheter into the left pericardiophrenic vein: A case report.

We report a case of primary malposition of a PICC inserted by guidewire replacement in the emergency room. Intraprocedural tip location by intracavitary electrocardiography was not feasible because the patient had atrial fibrillation; intraprocedural tip location by ultrasound (using the so-called "bubble test") showed that the tip was not in the superior vena cava or in the right atrium. A post-procedural chest X-ray confirmed the malposition but could not precise the location of the tip. A CT scan (scheduled for other purposes) finally visualized the tip in a very unusual location, the left pericardiophrenic vein.

Characteristic of IgA and IgG antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in an Italian referral COVID-19 Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Antibody response plays a fundamental role in the natural history of infectious disease. A better understanding of the immune response in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection could be important for identifying patients at greater risk of developing a more severe form of disease and with a worse prognosis. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis to determine the presence and the levels of both anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgA in a cohort of hospitalized patients with confirmed infection at different times in the natural history of the disease. Patients enrolled when admitted at the emergency department were prospectively followed up during hospital stay. RESULTS: Overall, 131 patients were considered with a total of 237 samples processed. Cross-sectional analysis showed that seroconversion for IgA seems to occur between days 6 and 15, while IgG response seems to occur slightly later, peaking at day 20 after symptoms onset. Both IgA and IgG were maintained beyond 2 months. Severe patients showed a higher IgA response compared with mild patients when analyzing optical density (8.3 versus 5.6, p < 0.001). Prospective analysis conducted on 55 patients confirmed that IgA appear slightly earlier than IgG. After stratifying for the severity of disease, both the IgA and IgG responses were more vigorous in severe cases. Moreover, while IgG tended to stabilize, there was a relevant decline after the first month of IgA levels in mild cases. CONCLUSION: IgA and IgG antibody response is closely related, although seroconversion for IgA occurs earlier. Both IgA and IgG are maintained beyond 2 months. Severe patients showed a more vigorous IgA and IgG response. IgA levels seem to decline after 1 month since the onset of symptoms in mild cases. Our results should be interpreted with cautions due to several limitations in our study, mainly the small number of cases, lack of data on viral load and clinical setting.

Lung ultrasound predicts non-invasive ventilation outcome in COVID-19 acute respiratory failure: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to determine relationships between lung aeration assessed by lung ultrasound (LUS) with non-invasive ventilation (NIMV) outcome, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mechanical ventilation (MV) needs in COVID-19 respiratory failure. METHODS: A cohort of adult patients with COVID-19 respiratory failure underwent LUS during initial assessment. A simplified LUS protocol consisting in scanning six areas, three for each side, was adopted. A score from 0 to 3 was assigned to each area. Comprehensive LUS score (LUSsc) was calculated as the sum of the score in all areas. LUSsc, the amount of involved sonographic lung areas (LUSq), the number of lung quadrants radiographically infiltrated and the degree of oxygenation impairment at admission (SpO2/FiO2 ratio) were compared to NIMV Outcome, MV needs and ICU admission. RESULTS: Among 85 patients prospectively included in the analysis, 49 of 61 needed MV. LUSsc and LUSq were higher in patients who required MV (median 12 [IQR 8-14] and median 6 [IQR 4-6], respectively) than in those who did not (6 [IQR 2-9] and 3 [IQR 1-5], respectively), both P<0.001. NIMV trial failed in 26 patients out 36. LUSsc and LUSq were significantly higher in patients who failed NIMV than in those who did not. From ROC analysis, LUSsc ≥12 and LUSq ≥5 gave the best cut-off values for NIMV failure prediction (AUC=0.95, 95%CI 0.83-0.99 and AUC=0.81, 95% CI 0.65-0.91, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest LUS as a possible tool for identifying patients who are likely to require MV and ICU admission or to fail a NIMV trial.

Energy drinks: a narrative review of their physiological and pathological effects.

The consumption of energy drinks (Edks) has increased significantly in past years, with a growing market that is estimated to reach $61 billion by 2021 worldwide. Several studies demonstrated the physiological and pathological effects of these substances contained in Edks. The most common ingredient contained in Edks is caffeine, which is commonly mixed with taurine, and B-group vitamins. Scientific evidence of potentially serious adverse health effects are known, but it would be better to acquire more information regarding these beverages. We systematically checked Medical literature on MEDLINE-Pubmed from inception to January 2020 to find studies and reports on Edks and adverse events. Edks consumption is specially related to cardiovascular effects as malignant arrhythmias. We found a significant focus on arrhythmogenic risk in patients affected by long QT syndrome or other predisposing conditions for QT elongation. Other pathological effects are known as gastrointestinal, vascular and neurological disorders. Edks, as well as all caffeinated beverages, should be taken with caution or avoided in select populations, such as patients suffering from cardiovascular or neurological illnesses; their use can unmask a sleepy life-threatening disease.

Sortilin levels correlate with major cardiovascular events of diabetic patients with peripheral artery disease following revascularization: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) represents one of the most relevant vascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Moreover, T2DM patients suffering from PAD have an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and major adverse limb events (MALE). Sortilin, a protein involved in apolipoproteins trafficking, is associated with lower limb PAD in T2DM patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between baseline serum levels of sortilin, MACE and MALE occurrence after revascularization of T2DM patients with PAD and chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed a prospective non-randomized study including 230 statin-free T2DM patients with PAD and CLTI. Sortilin levels were measured before the endovascular intervention and incident outcomes were assessed during a 12 month follow-up. RESULTS: Sortilin levels were significantly increased in individuals with more aggressive PAD (2.25 ± 0.51 ng/mL vs 1.44 ± 0.47 ng/mL, p < 0.001). During follow-up, 83 MACE and 116 MALE occurred. In patients, who then developed MACE and MALE, sortilin was higher. In particular, 2.46 ± 0.53 ng/mL vs 1.55 ± 0.42 ng/mL, p < 0.001 for MACE and 2.10 ± 0.54 ng/mL vs 1.65 ± 0.65 ng/mL, p < 0.001 for MALE. After adjusting for traditional atherosclerosis risk factors, the association between sortilin and vascular outcomes remained significant in a multivariate analysis. In our receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis using sortilin levels the prediction of MACE incidence improved (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.94) and MALE (AUC = 0.72). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that sortilin correlates with incidence of MACE and MALE after endovascular revascularization in a diabetic population with PAD and CLTI.

Lung Ultrasound Findings Are Associated with Mortality and Need for Intensive Care Admission in COVID-19 Patients Evaluated in the Emergency Department.

Lung ultrasound (LUS) has recently been advocated as an accurate tool to diagnose coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. However, reports on its use are based mainly on hypothesis studies, case reports or small retrospective case series, while the prognostic role of LUS in COVID-19 patients has not yet been established. We conducted a prospective study aimed at assessing the ability of LUS to predict mortality and intensive care unit admission of COVID-19 patients evaluated in a tertiary level emergency department. Patients in our sample had a median of 6 lung areas with pathologic findings (inter-quartile range [IQR]: 6, range: 0-14), defined as a score different from 0. The median rate of lung areas involved was 71% (IQR: 64%, range: 0-100), while the median average score was 1.14 (IQR: 0.93, range: 0-3). A higher rate of pathologic lung areas and a higher average score were significantly associated with death, with an estimated difference of 40.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4%-68%, p = 0.01) and of 0.47 (95% CI: 0.06-0.93, p = 0.02), respectively. Similarly, the same parameters were associated with a significantly higher risk of intensive care unit admission with estimated differences of 29% (95% CI: 8%-50%, p = 0.008) and 0.47 (95% CI: 0.05-0.93, p = 0.02), respectively. Our study indicates that LUS is able to detect COVID-19 pneumonia and to predict, during the first evaluation in the emergency department, patients at risk for intensive care unit admission and death.

Early procalcitonin determination in the emergency department and clinical outcome of community-acquired pneumonia in old and oldest old patients.

We evaluated patients admitted through our ED for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) to assess the relevance of an early procalcitonin (PCT) determination on patient's outcomes. METHODS: We reviewed all patients admitted for CAP in a 10 years period (2008-2017). Patients were stratified according to age groups: (18-65 years; 65-84 years; and ≥85 years), CURB-65 score, need for ventilation, Sepsis-3 criteria at admission, enrollment period, blood culture in ED. In-hospital mortality rate and length of hospital stay (LOS) were compared between patients that had an early PCT determination in ED vs. patients admitted without. RESULTS: Our study cohort consisted of 4056 CAP patients, age 76 [IQ range 64-84] years. We enrolled 1039 patients <65 years old, 2015 aged 65-84 years, and 1002 aged ≥85 years. Overall, the early PCT determination in ED was not associated to a reduced LOS (p=0.630), nor to a reduced mortality rate (p=0.134). However, in patients ≥ 85 years, the PCT determination in ED was associated with lower mortality in those with CURB-65 ≥ 2, and Charlson's score ≥ 2 (p=0.033 and p=0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Although an early PCT assessment in ED was not associated with better outcomes in term of LOS and mortality in patients with CAP, our findings suggest that it might be associated with reduced mortality in patients ≥ 85 years with severe CAP or high comorbidity.

Association between plasma omentin-1 levels in type 2 diabetic patients and peripheral artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Type-2 diabetes mellitus is one of the major risk factors of atherosclerosis, particularly in peripheral artery disease (PAD). Several studies have documented a correlation between omentin-1 serum levels, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular diseases. However, a clear link between circulating omentin-1 and PAD in diabetic patients has yet to be established. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of omentin-1 in PAD in type-2 diabetic patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed omentin-1 serum levels by ELISA in 600 type-2 diabetic patients with (n = 300) and without (n = 300) PAD at Fontaine's stage II, III, or IV. RESULTS: We found that omentin-1 serum levels were significantly lower in diabetic patients with PAD than in diabetic controls (29.46 vs 49.24 ng/mL, P < 0.001) and that the levels gradually decreased in proportion to disease severity (P < 0.05). The association between omentin-1 levels and PAD remained significant after adjusting for major risk factors in a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that omentin-1 is reduced in type 2 diabetic patients with PAD and that omentin-1 levels are related to disease severity.

The Role of the Stem Cells Therapy in the Peripheral Artery Disease.

Vascular complications of diabetes mellitus are an important issue for all clinicians involved in the management of this complex pathology. Although many therapeutic advances have been reached, peripheral arterial disease is still an unsolved problem that each year compromises the quality of life and life span of affected patients. Oftentimes, patients, after ineffective attempts of revascularization, undergo greater amputations. At the moment, there is no effective and definitive treatment available. In this scenario, the therapeutic use of stem cells could be an interesting option. The aim of the present review is to gather all the best available evidence in this regard and to define a new role of the stem cells therapy in this field, from biomarker to possible therapeutic target.

Sortilin levels are associated with peripheral arterial disease in type 2 diabetic subjects.

BACKGROUND: Sortilin is a 95-kDa protein which has recently been linked to circulating cholesterol concentration and lifetime risk of developing significant atherosclerotic disease. Sortilin is found inside different cell types and circulating in blood. Higher circulating sortilin concentration has been found in patients with coronary atherosclerosis compared to control subjects. Sortilin concentration is influenced by statin therapy. METHODS: We enrolled statin-naïve subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus and we performed a cross-sectional study to evaluate the association between sortilin levels and the presence of clinically significant lower limb peripheral artery disease (PAD) in a population of statin-free diabetic subjects. RESULTS: Out of the 154 patients enrolled in our study, 80 patients were free from PAD, while 74 had clinically significant PAD. Sortilin concentration was significantly higher in the latter group compared to the former (1.61 ± 0.54 ng/mL versus 0.67 ± 0.30 ng/mL, P < 0.01) and there was a trend toward increased sortilin levels as disease severity increased. The association of sortilin levels with PAD remained after adjusting for major risk factors in a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that sortilin is significantly and independently associated with the presence of lower limb PAD in a statin-free diabetic population and it may be a promising marker for clinically significant atherosclerosis of the lower limbs. Further studies are needed to confirm this finding and to evaluate its clinical usefulness.

Controversies in venous thromboembolism: the unique case of isolated distal deep vein thrombosis.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) represents the third leading cause of cardiovascular mortality, and it is the main cause of preventable mortality in hospitalized patients. Among VTE, there is the unique case of isolated distal deep vein thrombosis (IDDVT), which still lacks an agreement in terms of optimal therapeutic strategy. Although most IDDVTs are self-limiting and associated with a very low risk of embolic complications, still not all IDDVTs can be safely identified as stable. Lack of strong scientific evidence, fear of thromboembolic complications, and risk of bleeding upon initiation of anticoagulant treatment result in very heterogeneous therapeutic strategies among physicians. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the literature, highlight the many controversial issues regarding IDDVTs, and call for a consensus of experts aimed to shed new light on the gray areas of IDDVT management and therapy.