Analysis of Risk Scores to Predict Mortality in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery for Endocarditis. / Análise de Escores de Risco para Predição de Mortalidade em Pacientes Submetidos à Cirurgia Cardíaca por Endocardite.

BACKGROUND: Risk scores are available for use in daily clinical practice, but knowing which one to choose is still fraught with uncertainty. OBJECTIVES: To assess the logistic EuroSCORE, EuroSCORE II, and the infective endocarditis (IE)-specific scores STS-IE, PALSUSE, AEPEI, EndoSCORE and RISK-E, as predictors of hospital mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery for active IE at a tertiary teaching hospital in Southern Brazil. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study including all patients aged ≥ 18 years who underwent cardiac surgery for active IE at the study facility from 2007-2016. The scores were assessed by calibration evaluation (observed/expected [O/E] mortality ratio) and discrimination (area under the ROC curve [AUC]). Comparison of AUC was performed by the DeLong test. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 107 patients were included. Overall hospital mortality was 29.0% (95%CI: 20.4-37.6%). The best O/E mortality ratio was achieved by the PALSUSE score (1.01, 95%CI: 0.70-1.42), followed by the logistic EuroSCORE (1.3, 95%CI: 0.92-1.87). The logistic EuroSCORE had the highest discriminatory power (AUC 0.77), which was significantly superior to EuroSCORE II (p = 0.03), STS-IE (p = 0.03), PALSUSE (p = 0.03), AEPEI (p = 0.03), and RISK-E (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the availability of recent IE-specific scores, and considering the trade-off between the indexes, the logistic EuroSCORE seemed to be the best predictor of mortality risk in our cohort, taking calibration (O/E mortality ratio: 1.3) and discrimination (AUC 0.77) into account. Local validation of IE-specific scores is needed to better assess preoperative surgical risk. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; 114(3):518-524).

FUNDAMENTO: Escores de risco estão disponíveis para uso na prática clínica diária, mas saber qual deles escolher é ainda incerto. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar o EuroSCORE logístico, o EuroSCORE II e os escores específicos para endocardite infecciosa STS-IE, PALSUSE, AEPEI, EndoSCORE e RISK-E na predição de mortalidade hospitalar de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca por endocardite ativa em um hospital terciário de ensino do sul do Brasil. MÉTODOS: Estudo de coorte retrospectivo incluindo todos os pacientes com idade ≥ 18 anos submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca por endocardite ativa no centro do estudo entre 2007 e 2016. Foram realizadas análises de calibração (razão de mortalidade observada/esperada, O/E) e de discriminação (área sob a curva ROC, ASC), sendo a comparação das ASC realizada pelo teste de DeLong. P < 0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significativo. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 107 pacientes, sendo a mortalidade hospitalar de 29,0% (IC95%: 20.4-37.6%). A melhor razão de mortalidade O/E foi obtida pelo escore PALSUSE (1,01, IC95%: 0,70-1,42), seguido pelo EuroSCORE logístico (1,3, IC95%: 0,92-1,87). O EuroSCORE logístico apresentou o maior poder discriminatório (ASC 0,77), significativamente superior ao EuroSCORE II (p = 0,03), STS-IE (p = 0,03), PALSUSE (p = 0,03), AEPEI (p = 0,03) e RISK-E (p = 0,02). CONCLUSÕES: Apesar da disponibilidade dos recentes escores específicos, o EuroSCORE logístico foi o melhor preditor de mortalidade em nossa coorte, considerando-se análise de calibração (mortalidade O/E: 1,3) e de discriminação (ASC 0,77). A validação local dos escores específicos é necessária para uma melhor avaliação do risco cirúrgico. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; 114(3):518-524).

Análise de Escores de Risco para Predição de Mortalidade em Pacientes Submetidos à Cirurgia Cardíaca por Endocardite / Analysis of Risk Scores to Predict Mortality in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery for Endocarditis

Resumo Fundamento Escores de risco estão disponíveis para uso na prática clínica diária, mas saber qual deles escolher é ainda incerto. Objetivos Avaliar o EuroSCORE logístico, o EuroSCORE II e os escores específicos para endocardite infecciosa STS-IE, PALSUSE, AEPEI, EndoSCORE e RISK-E na predição de mortalidade hospitalar de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca por endocardite ativa em um hospital terciário de ensino do sul do Brasil. Métodos Estudo de coorte retrospectivo incluindo todos os pacientes com idade ≥ 18 anos submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca por endocardite ativa no centro do estudo entre 2007 e 2016. Foram realizadas análises de calibração (razão de mortalidade observada/esperada, O/E) e de discriminação (área sob a curva ROC, ASC), sendo a comparação das ASC realizada pelo teste de DeLong. P < 0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significativo Resultados Foram incluídos 107 pacientes, sendo a mortalidade hospitalar de 29,0% (IC95%: 20.4-37.6%). A melhor razão de mortalidade O/E foi obtida pelo escore PALSUSE (1,01, IC95%: 0,70-1,42), seguido pelo EuroSCORE logístico (1,3, IC95%: 0,92-1,87). O EuroSCORE logístico apresentou o maior poder discriminatório (ASC 0,77), significativamente superior ao EuroSCORE II (p = 0,03), STS-IE (p = 0,03), PALSUSE (p = 0,03), AEPEI (p = 0,03) e RISK-E (p = 0,02). Conclusões Apesar da disponibilidade dos recentes escores específicos, o EuroSCORE logístico foi o melhor preditor de mortalidade em nossa coorte, considerando-se análise de calibração (mortalidade O/E: 1,3) e de discriminação (ASC 0,77). A validação local dos escores específicos é necessária para uma melhor avaliação do risco cirúrgico. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; 114(3):518-524)

Abstract Background Risk scores are available for use in daily clinical practice, but knowing which one to choose is still fraught with uncertainty. Objectives To assess the logistic EuroSCORE, EuroSCORE II, and the infective endocarditis (IE)-specific scores STS-IE, PALSUSE, AEPEI, EndoSCORE and RISK-E, as predictors of hospital mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery for active IE at a tertiary teaching hospital in Southern Brazil. Methods Retrospective cohort study including all patients aged ≥ 18 years who underwent cardiac surgery for active IE at the study facility from 2007-2016. The scores were assessed by calibration evaluation (observed/expected [O/E] mortality ratio) and discrimination (area under the ROC curve [AUC]). Comparison of AUC was performed by the DeLong test. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 107 patients were included. Overall hospital mortality was 29.0% (95%CI: 20.4-37.6%). The best O/E mortality ratio was achieved by the PALSUSE score (1.01, 95%CI: 0.70-1.42), followed by the logistic EuroSCORE (1.3, 95%CI: 0.92-1.87). The logistic EuroSCORE had the highest discriminatory power (AUC 0.77), which was significantly superior to EuroSCORE II (p = 0.03), STS-IE (p = 0.03), PALSUSE (p = 0.03), AEPEI (p = 0.03), and RISK-E (p = 0.02). Conclusions Despite the availability of recent IE-specific scores, and considering the trade-off between the indexes, the logistic EuroSCORE seemed to be the best predictor of mortality risk in our cohort, taking calibration (O/E mortality ratio: 1.3) and discrimination (AUC 0.77) into account. Local validation of IE-specific scores is needed to better assess preoperative surgical risk. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; 114(3):518-524)

Miocardite aguda sob a forma de síndrome coronariana aguda após infecção do trato urinário / Acute myocarditis presenting as acute coronary syndrome following urinary tract infection

A miocardite é cada vez mais diagnosticada, principalmente pela maior disponibilidade de métodos como a ressonância magnética cardíaca. A apresentação clínica é variável, geralmente posterior a uma infecção respiratória ou gastrointestinal, manifestando-se como síndrome coronariana aguda (SCA), insuficiência cardíaca aguda ou crônica, arritmias cardíacas ou mesmo choque cardiogênico inexplicável. Relatos de casos de miocardite após infecção do trato urinário (ITU) são escassos. Neste relato, descrevemos o caso de um paciente masculino de 24 anos com miocardite após ITU que se apresentou sob a forma de SCA(AU)

The diagnosis of myocarditis has increased mainly due to greater availability of methods such as cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Its clinical presentation varies, usually following respiratory or gastrointestinal tract infection, in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), acute or chronic heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, or even unexplained cardiogenic shock. Case reports of patients with myocarditis following urinary tract infection (UTI) are scarce. This is a case report of a 24-year-old male patient with myocarditis with symptoms of ACS following UTI(AU)

Long-lasting recognition memory impairment and alterations in brain levels of cytokines and BDNF induced by maternal deprivation: effects of valproic acid and topiramate.

Exposure to stressful events early in life may have permanent deleterious consequences on nervous system function and increase the susceptibility to psychiatric conditions later in life. Maternal deprivation, commonly used as a source of neonatal stress, impairs memory in adult rats and reduces hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels. Inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukins (IL) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) have been shown to be increased in the peripheral blood of patients with psychiatric disorders. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of maternal separation on the levels of IL-10 and TNF-α, and BDNF in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of adult rats. We also evaluated the potential ameliorating properties of topiramate and valproic acid on memory deficits and cytokine and BDNF changes associated with maternal deprivation. The results indicated that, in addition to inducing memory deficits, maternal deprivation increased the levels of IL-10 in the hippocampus, and TNF-α in the hippocampus and in the cortex, and decreased hippocampal levels of BDNF, in adult life. Neither valproic acid nor topiramate were able to ameliorate memory deficits or the reduction in BDNF induced by maternal separation. The highest dose of topiramate was able to reduce IL-10 in the hippocampus and TNF-α in the prefrontal cortex, while valproate only reduced IL-10 levels in the hippocampus. These findings may have implications for a better understanding of the mechanisms associated with alterations observed in adult life induced by early stressful events, and for the proposal of novel therapeutic strategies.

Como identificar uma cefaléia secundária na emergência / How to identify a secondary headache in the emergency room

É importante a identificação de uma cefaléia de causa secundária na emergência, pois torna-se necessária uma investigação complementar através de exames laboratoriais, de neuroimagem, assim como avaliação de líquor quando indicado. Há fatores de alarme identificáveis durante o atendimento, que podem facilitar essa identificação, possibilitando um tratamento adequado.

The identification of a secondary cause of headache in the emergency room is important because is necessary further investigation through laboratorial tests, neuroimaging, and lumbar puncture when indicated. There are identifiable danger signs on history and examination, which can facilitate this identification, enabling appropriate treatment.

Pericardiocentese na urgência / Emergency pericardiocentesis

A pericardiocentese é um procedimento diagnóstico e terapêutico que deve ser conhecido por todo clínico, pois a aspiração de pequeno volume de líquido é capaz de salvar a vida do paciente em casos de tamponamento cardíaco. Pode ser realizada com rapidez e com um mínimo de material, bastando pessoal treinado.

Pericardiocentesis is a therapeutic and diagnostic procedure that should be known by every physician, because the aspiration of a small volume of liquid is able to save the patient's life in cases of cardiac tamponade. It can be performed quickly and with a minimum of material, simply by a trained doctor.

Differential effects of modafinil on memory in naïve and memory-impaired rats.

Modafinil is a wake-promoting drug and has been approved for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness in narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea. Modafinil was shown to improve learning and memory in rodents, and to reverse memory deficits induced by sleep deprivation or stress. However, depending on the memory paradigm used, modafinil might also impair memory. We aimed to investigate the effects of modafinil on memory consolidation and retrieval for object recognition and inhibitory avoidance in naïve adult rats. We also investigated whether acute or chronic administration of modafinil would reverse memory deficits induced by iron overload, a model of memory impairment related to neurodegenerative disorders. Adult naïve rats received modafinil (0.0, 0.75, 7.5 or 75 mg/kg) either immediately after training or 1 h prior to testing in object recognition or inhibitory avoidance. Iron-treated rats received modafinil immediately after training in object recognition. In order to investigate the effects of chronic modafinil, iron-treated rats received daily injections of modafinil for 17 days, and 24 h later they were trained in object recognition or inhibitory avoidance. Acute modafinil does not affect memory consolidation or retrieval in naive rats. A single injection of modafinil at the highest dose was able to recover recognition memory in iron-treated rats. Chronic modafinil completely recovered iron-induced recognition memory and emotional memory deficits. Additional preclinical and clinical studies are necessary in order to support the applicability of modafinil in recovering memory impairment associated with neurodegenerative disorders.