Ivabradine for Uncontrolled Sinus Tachycardia in Thyrotoxic Cardiomyopathy - Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Beta-blockers, mainly propranalol, are usually administered to control heart rate in patients with thyrotoxicosis, especially when congestive heart failure presents. However, when thyrotoxicosis is not controlled, heart rate may be difficult to control even with maximal doses of propranolol. This presentation alerts physicians to the possibility of using ivabradine, a selective inhibitor of the sinoatrial pacemaker, for the control of heart rate. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a 37-year-old woman with thyrotoxicosis and congestive heart failure whose heart rate was not controlled with a maximal dose of beta blockers during a thyroid storm. The addition of ivabradine, a selective inhibitor of the sinoatrial pacemaker, controlled her heart rate within 48 hours. CONCLUSION: Ivabradine should be considered in patients with thyrotoxicosis, including those with heart failure, in whom beta blockers are insufficient to control heart rate.

Severe maternal infectious morbidity during the second half of pregnancy is an independent risk factor for a small for gestational age neonate.

OBJECTIVE: The effect of severe maternal infectious morbidity on fetal growth during the second half of pregnancy is under debate. Preliminary evidence suggests that such association may be plausible. The objectives of this study were to determine: 1) The association between severe maternal infectious morbidity and adverse pregnancy outcome; and 2) The effect of maternal infection during pregnancy on fetal growth. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective population - based cohort study included 4771 women who gave birth at our medical center during the study period. Parturients were allocated into two groups: 1) patients with severe maternal infection during the second half of pregnancy (n = 368); and 2) control group comprised of normal pregnant women who were matched to the study group by maternal age, gravidity and parity (n = 4403). RESULTS: The severe maternal infection group included women with pneumonia (n = 198), pyelonephritis (n = 131), and viral pneumonitis (n = 39). In comparison to the normal patients group: 1) having had pneumonia during the second half of pregnancy was associated with increased rates of fetal growth restriction, placental abruption, fetal demise (P < 0.001, for all comparisons) and preeclampsia (P = 0.041); 2) Pyelonephritis during the second half of gestation was associated with higher rates of fetal growth restriction (P < 0.001), placental abruption (P = 0.006) and labor induction (P = 0.039). As a group, women with severe maternal infection had higher rates of small for gestational age neonates compared to normal parturients (P < 0.001). Among women with infections, only those who had pyelonephritis (P = 0.032) or pneumonia (P = 0.008), had a higher rate of small for gestational age neonates than those in the control group. After adjustment to confounding factors, maternal infection (OR = 1.42, 95% CI 1.085-1.85) and previous delivery of a small for gestational age neonate (OR = 2.54, 95% CI 2.02-3.19), were independent risk factors for the delivery of a small for gestational age neonate. CONCLUSION: Severe maternal infectious morbidity during the second half of pregnancy is an independent risk factor for the delivery of a small for gestational age neonate and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Both, pneumonia and pyelonephritis, during the second half of gestation affect fetal growth and are related to higher rates of small for gestational age neonates.

Placental abruption as a trigger of DIC in women with HELLP syndrome: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) is a life-threatening condition. Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets (HELLP) syndrome is one of the obstetrical syndromes mostly associated with DIC and thus, high rates of fatal complications. There is a lack of information regarding epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of women who developed HELLP syndrome with and without DIC. Additionally, until now, there is no adapted and widely accepted way to diagnose DIC among pregnant women presenting with HELLP syndrome, despite the evident maternal mortality linked to the disease.Objectives: (1) Address the gaps in knowledge regarding the prevalence, epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of women with HELLP syndrome who develop DIC; and (2) determine the risk factors for the development of DIC among women with HELLP syndrome. STUDY DESIGN: This was a population-based retrospective cohort study, including all women who delivered at the Soroka University Medical Center between the years 2001-2017. The study population was divided into three groups: (1) comparison group (n = 207,266 deliveries); (2) HELLP syndrome without DIC (n = 320); (3) HELLP syndrome with DIC (n = 21). The diagnosis of DIC was based on the ICD-9 code as recorded in the obstetrical database of the Soroka University Medical Center. The coding is based on the diagnosis made by the attending physician during hospitalization. RESULTS: (1) The rate of HELLP syndrome in the study population was 0.16% (341/207,607), of them 6.16% (21/341) had DIC; (2) among patients with HELLP syndrome, those with DIC had a higher median gravidity and parity; (3) a higher rate of severe maternal morbidity including blood product transfusion, placental abruption, eclampsia, acute renal failure and maternal death was observed in those who had HELLP syndrome and DIC compared to those with HELLP syndrome without DIC and the comparison group (p-value <.001 for comparison among the three groups); (4) among women with HELLP syndrome, those with DIC had a longer median PT difference, higher serum creatinine and lower AST as well as ALT median concentrations than those without DIC; (5) patients with HELLP syndrome and DIC had a higher rate of stillbirth and postpartum death than patients in the other groups (p-value <.001 for comparison among the three groups); and (6) placental abruption was an independent risk factor for the development of DIC in women with HELLP syndrome (p-value <.001). CONCLUSIONS: (1) Among women with HELLP syndrome, those who developed DIC had a higher rate of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality than those without DIC; and (2) placental abruption, but not abnormal liver function, was an independent risk factor for the development of DIC in women with HELLP syndrome.

WITHDRAWN: Ivabradine for Uncontrolled Sinus Tachycardia in Thyrotoxic Cardiomyopathy ­ Case Report

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Medically indicated late preterm delivery and its impact on perinatal morbidity and mortality: a retrospective population-based cohort study.

Objective: In the last few decades, attention has been focused on morbidity and mortality associated with late preterm delivery (34-36 + 6/7 weeks), accounting for 60-70% of all preterm births. This study is aimed to determine (1) the prevalence of late preterm deliveries (spontaneous and medically indicated) in our population; and (2) the rate of neonatal morbidity and mortality as well as maternal complications associated with the different phenotypes of late preterm deliveries. Study design: This retrospective population-based cohort study, included 96,176 women who had 257,182 deliveries, occurred between 1988 and 2011, allocated into three groups: term (n = 242,286), spontaneous (n = 10,063), and medically indicated (n = 4833) late preterm deliveries. Results: (1) Medically indicated late preterm deliveries were associated with increased maternal morbidity, as well as neonatal morbidity and mortality, in comparison with other study groups (p < .01 for all comparisons); (2) medically indicated late preterm delivery was an independent risk factor for composite neonatal morbidity (low Apgar score at 5', seizures, asphyxia, acidosis) after adjustment for confounding factors (maternal age and ethnicity and neonatal gender) and stratification according to gestational age at delivery; and (3) the proportion of medically indicated late preterm deliveries affected the neonatal mortality rate. Below 35% of all late preterm deliveries, indicated late preterm birth were associated with a reduction in neonatal mortality; however, above this threshold medically indicated late preterm deliveries were associated with an increased risk for neonatal death. Conclusions: (1) Medically indicated late preterm deliveries were independently associated with adverse composite neonatal outcome; and (2) to benefit in term of neonatal outcome from the tool of medically indicated late preterm birth, their proportion should be kept below 35% of all late preterm deliveries, while exceeding this threshold increases the risk of neonatal mortality.

Comparative analysis of early adverse events of pelvic organ prolapse repair with or without transvaginal mesh using Clavien-Dindo classification.

OBJECTIVE: To assess adverse events following surgical repair of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) with or without the use of transvaginal mesh. METHODS: The present retrospective study was conducted among women who underwent surgical POP repair at Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel, between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2015. Patients underwent anterior and posterior colporrhaphy either with transvaginal mesh (Elevate Prolapse Repair System; American Medical Systems, Minnetonka, MN, USA) or without transvaginal mesh (native tissue repair). Perioperative adverse events were assessed using the Clavien-Dindo classification; multivariate regression models were constructed to predict minor and major adverse events. RESULTS: There were 111 women included; 35 were treated with transvaginal mesh, and 76 underwent native tissue repair. Women undergoing native tissue repair had a lower mean grade of cystocele (P=0.023) and a higher rate of urinary stress incontinence (P=0.017) than patients treated with transvaginal mesh. The duration of surgery (P=0.002), duration of hospitalization (P<0.001), and the amount of blood loss (P=0.021) were lower in the native tissue repair group. Repair with transvaginal mesh was not associated with increased odds of major or minor adverse events (P>0.05 for all models examined). CONCLUSION: Perioperative and postoperative adverse events were comparable regardless of the operative approach.

Urine protein-to-creatinine ratio: a point of care for the diagnosis of preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between the urine protein-creatinine ratio (UPCR) and the 24-hour urine protein excretion test (UPET), and to identify the optimal threshold values of UPCR for the diagnosis of preeclampsia and its severe form. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 81 hypertensive pregnant patients who had a 24-h UPET and a UPCR tests. Two groups were created using a UPCR cut-off of 23.2 mg/mmol (40 negative UPCR, 41 positive UPCR). RESULTS: Forty-nine patients of were diagnosed with preeclampsia, and 23 of them had a severe disease. There was a significant correlation between UPCR and 24-h UPET. A cut-off UPCR value of 23.2 mg/mmol had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.27, sensitivity of 89%, specificity 88%, positive predictive value 90%, a positive likelihood ratio (+LR) of 7.41 and a negative likelihood ratio (-LR) of 0.13 for the diagnosis of preeclampsia. UPCR value of 325 mg/mmol had an AUC of 0.841, and a sensitivity of 83%, specificity 81%, positive predictive value 81%, +LR of 4.4 and -LR of 0.2 for the diagnosis of severe preeclampsia. CONCLUSIONS: The UPCR test is highly correlated with the 24-h UPET. We propose a novel and sensitive cut-off for the diagnosis of preeclampsia by UPCR test. The UPCR test can be used for the identification of hypertensive patients with preeclampsia and severe disease.

The more you lose the more you miss: accuracy of postpartum blood loss visual estimation. A systematic review of the literature.

Midwives and nurses have a key role in monitoring postpartum period. They represent the first line professional figure in quantifying blood loss, initiating early diagnosis of obstetric hemorrhage, and mobilizing a team response, if needed. These actions are crucial in determining maternal outcome in postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). In our review we aimed to: (1) Provide a picture of PPH including its pathophysiology, epidemiology, and associated complications; (2) Discuss diagnosis of this dangerous postpartum event; and, (3) Especially evaluate the efficiency of the employment of visual blood loss estimation as a rapid way to suspect PPH and activate the patient assessment.

Early onset preeclampsia and cerebral palsy: a double hit model?

BACKGROUND: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a late sequel of pregnancy, and the role of preeclampsia is debatable. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to determine the association between preeclampsia and cerebral palsy and to determine the risk factors for the development of cerebral palsy in these patients. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective population-based cohort study was designed that included 229,192 singleton pregnancies. The study population was divided into 2 groups: (1) patients with preeclampsia (n = 9749) and (2) normotensive gestations (n = 219,443). Generalized Estimating Equation multiple logistic regression models were performed to study the associations among preeclampsia, small for gestational age, gestational age at delivery, and the risk factors for the development of cerebral palsy in neonates of women with preeclampsia. RESULTS: The rate of cerebral palsy was double in patients with preeclampsia than in the normotensive group (0.2% vs 0.1%; P = .015); early onset preeclampsia and small for gestational age were independent risk factors for the subsequent development of cerebral palsy (odds ratio, 8.639 [95% confidence interval, 4.269-17.480]; odds ratio, 2.737 [95% confidence interval, 1.937-3.868], respectively). A second model was conducted to determine the risk factors for the development of cerebral palsy in women with preeclampsia. Birth asphyxia, complications of prematurity, and neonatal infectious morbidity, but not small for gestational age or gestational age at delivery, were independent risk factors for the development of cerebral palsy. CONCLUSION: In a comparison with normal pregnant women, the rate of cerebral palsy is double among patients with preeclampsia, especially those with early-onset disease. Early-onset preeclampsia is an independent risk factor for cerebral palsy. Among women with preeclampsia, the presence of neonatal infectious morbidity, birth asphyxia, and complications of prematurity are independent risk factors for the development of cerebral palsy, which further supports the role of a multi-hit model in the pathogenesis of this syndrome.

Antenatal diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroid fetal goiter in an euthyroid mother: a case report and review of literature.

Fetal goiter is an extremely rare complication of pregnancy. Its incidence is 1 in 40,000 deliveries. Antithyroid maternal therapy is responsible for 10-15% of fetal congenital hypothyroidism and can be considered as the most frequent underlying cause for this condition. The frequency of fetal goiter that is associated with fetal hypothyroidism and normal maternal thyroid function, as in our case, is even less frequent. Fetal goiter is associated with increased rate of perinatal complications and long-term morbidity, due to peripartum complications including labor dystocia due to its mass effect, as well as neonatal airway obstruction that may lead to hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and death. We present, in this study, a case report of late antenatal fetal goiter in an euthyroid woman and a literature review of the diagnosis and treatment of these cases.

Synaptically released zinc triggers metabotropic signaling via a zinc-sensing receptor in the hippocampus.

Zn(2+) is coreleased with glutamate from mossy fiber terminals and can influence synaptic function. Here, we demonstrate that synaptically released Zn(2+) activates a selective postsynaptic Zn(2+)-sensing receptor (ZnR) in the CA3 region of the hippocampus. ZnR activation induced intracellular release of Ca(2+), as well as phosphorylation of extracellular-regulated kinase and Ca(2+)/calmodulin kinase II. Blockade of synaptic transmission by tetrodotoxin or CdCl inhibited the ZnR-mediated Ca(2+) rises. The responses mediated by ZnR were largely attenuated by the extracellular Zn(2+) chelator, CaEDTA, and in slices from mice lacking vesicular Zn(2+), suggesting that synaptically released Zn(2+) triggers the metabotropic activity. Knockdown of the expression of the orphan G-protein-coupled receptor 39 (GPR39) attenuated ZnR activity in a neuronal cell line. Importantly, we observed widespread GPR39 labeling in CA3 neurons, suggesting a role for this receptor in mediating ZnR signaling in the hippocampus. Our results describe a unique role for synaptic Zn(2+) acting as the physiological ligand of a metabotropic receptor and provide a novel pathway by which synaptic Zn(2+) can regulate neuronal function.

Synaptic release of zinc from brain slices: factors governing release, imaging, and accurate calculation of concentration.

Cerebrocortical neurons that store and release zinc synaptically are widely recognized as critical in maintenance of cortical excitability and in certain forms of brain injury and disease. Through the last 20 years, this synaptic release has been observed directly or indirectly and reported in more than a score of publications from over a dozen laboratories in eight countries. However, the concentration of zinc released synaptically has not been established with final certainty. In the present work we have considered six aspects of the methods for studying release that can affect the magnitude of zinc release, the imaging of the release, and the calculated concentration of released zinc. We present original data on four of the issues and review published data on two others. We show that common errors can cause up to a 3000-fold underestimation of the concentration of released zinc. The results should help bring consistency to the study of synaptic release of zinc.

A role for ZnT-1 in regulating cellular cation influx.

The ZnTs are a growing family of proteins involved in lowering or sequestration of cellular zinc. Using fluorescent measurements of zinc transport we have addressed the mechanism of action of the most ubiquitously expressed member of this family, ZnT-1. This protein has been shown to lower levels of intracellular zinc though the mechanism has remained elusive. The rate of zinc efflux in HEK293 cells expressing ZnT-1 was not accelerated in comparison to control cells, suggesting that ZnT-1 may be involved in regulating influx rather than efflux of zinc. Co-expression of the L-type calcium channel, a major route for zinc influx, and ZnT-1 resulted in a 3-fold reduction in the rate of zinc influx in HEK293 and PC-12 cells, indicating that ZnT-1 modulates zinc permeation through this channel. Immunoblot analysis indicates that ZnT-1 expression does not modulate LTCC expression. Our findings therefore indicate that ZnT-1 modulates the permeation of cations through LTCC, thereby, regulating cation homeostasis through this pathway. Furthermore, ZnT-1 may play a role in cellular ion homeostasis and thereby confer protection against pathophysiological events linked to cellular Ca(2+) or Zn(2+) permeation and cell death.