Reverse Remodeling in Human Heart Failure after Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Is Associated With Reduced RHO-Kinase Activation.

Background: Reverse remodeling is a clinically relevant endpoint in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Rho-kinase (ROCK) signaling cascade activation correlates with cardiac remodeling and left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction in HFrEF patients. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is effective in HFrEF, especially when there is a left bundle block, as this treatment may stimulate reverse remodeling, thereby improving quality of life and prolonging survival for patients with this severe condition. Here, we evaluate the hypothesis that ROCK activation is reduced after effective CRT in HFrEF. Methods: ROCK activation in circulating leukocytes was evaluated in 28 HFrHF patients, using Western blot (myosin light chain phosphatase subunit 1 phosphorylation, MYPT1p/t), before and three months after initiation of CRT. LV systolic function and remodeling were assessed by echocardiography. Results: Three months after CRT, LV ejection fraction increased an average of 14.5% (p < 0.001) in 13 patients (responders), while no change was observed in 15 patients (non-responders). End-systolic diameter decreased 16% (p < 0.001) in responders, with no change in non-responders. ROCK activation in PBMCs decreased 66% in responders (p < 0.05) but increased 10% in non-responders (NS). LV end-diastolic diameter was also 5.2 mm larger in non-responders vs. responders (p = 0.058). LV ejection fraction, systolic diameter, and ROCK activation levels were similar in both groups at baseline. Conclusion: In HFrEF patients, 3 months of effective CRT induced reverse myocardial remodeling, and ROCK activation was significantly decreased in circulating leukocytes. Thus, decreased ROCK activation in circulating leukocytes may reflect reverse cardiac remodeling in patients with heart failure.

Amisulprida una nueva profilaxis contra las náuseas y vómitos postoperatorios: una revisión de la literatura / Amisulpride new prophylaxis against postoperative nausea and vomiting: a review of the literature

Introducción: las náuseas y vómitos postoperatorios (PONV) son una complicación postoperatoria común de la anestesia, por lo que la búsqueda de nuevas profilaxis efectivas ha aumentado durante los últimos años, en este contexto se perfila como una opción efectiva el amisulprida, antipsicótico que actúa bloqueando los receptores dopaminérgicos D2 y D3, en dosis bajas. Métodos: se realizó una búsqueda en bases de datos establecidas como: Pubmed, Embase, Google Scholar, Medline y la Cochrane central registed of controlled trials. Con las siguientes definiciones clave: "NV" or "postoperative nausea and vomiting" or "postoperative nausea" or "postoperative vomiting" and "Amisulpride" or "APD421", con el fin de cumplir el objetivo general de verificar la efectividad de amisulprida como medicamento profiláctico en manejo de PONV. Resultados: se evaluaron 3 estudios multicéntricos randomizados controlados, con alto grado de confiabilidad y buena calidad metodológica. Se evidencia que el amisulprida es un medicamento profiláctico efectivo contra PONV y con buen perfil de seguridad. Discusión/Conclusión: el amisulprida es un medicamento profiláctico eficaz para prevención de PONV, en dosis óptima de 5 mg, administrado durante el intraoperatorio de cirugías electivas en que se utilice anestesia general en pacientes de moderado a alto riesgo de PONV según escala de Apfel.

Introduction: postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are common postoperative complications of anaesthesia, that is why the search for new effective prophylaxis has increased in recent years. Between the drugs that have been tested for this purpose, Amisulpride, an antipsychotic that blocks D2 and D3 dopaminergic receptors, seems to be an effective option when used in low doses. Methods: This search was done by using databases such as Pubmed, Embase, Google Scholar, Medline and the Cochrane central register of controlled. With the following keywords: "NV" or "postoperative nausea and vomiting" or "postoperative nausea" or "postoperative vomiting" and"Amisulpride" or "APD421", with the purpose of verifying the effectiveness of Amisulpride as prophylactic medication in PONV man-agement, which is our main objective. Results: 3 randomised, controlled, multicenter, with high reliability and good methodological quality studies were evaluated. Evidence suggests that Amisulpride is effective as a prophylactic medication against PONV, and it also has a good safety profile. Discussion/Conclusion: Amisulpride administered in an optimal dose of 5 mg during intraoperative elective surgeries that required general anaesthesia, showed to be effective in preventing PONV as a prophylactic drug in patients with moderate to high risk of PONV according to the Apfel scale.

Edema facial como manifestación inicial atípica de arteritis de células gigantes: a propósito de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Facial edema as an atypical initial manifestation of giant cell arteritis: a case report and review of the literature

Introducción: la arteritis de células gigantes es la vasculitis de vaso grande más frecuente y se ve predominantemente en adultos ma-yores de 50 años. El diagnóstico es en base a la clínica que se compone de cefalea, polimialgia reumática, sensibilidad en relación a la arteria temporal, compromiso del estado general, entre otras cosas, más laboratorio que se evidencia reactantes de fase aguda elevados y anemia y se confirma con biopsia de arteria temporal. Métodos: reporte de un caso de una paciente con debut con cefalea y aumento de volumen facial, lo que conllevó un diagnóstico erróneo de celulitis facial. Debido a esta presentación atípica, se retrasó el diagnóstico de arteritis de la temporal y tratamiento oportuno. Resultados: la arteritis de células gigantes es una patología que posee un gran rango de presentaciones atípicas, lo que ocurre en hasta un 38% de los pacientes que poseen la enfermedad, manifestaciones que incluyen neuralgia del trigémino, infartos linguales, aneurismas aórticos, edema facial, entre otros. Conclusión: es muy relevante conocer las presentaciones atípicas de esta patología que son muy frecuentes de encontrar en los pacientes y conocerlas nos permite aumentar nuestra sospecha clínica permitiendo un diagnóstico y tratamiento oportuno, evitando consecuencias irreversibles por el retraso diagnóstico.

Introduction: giant cell arteritis is the most frequent large vessel vasculitis and is seen predominantly in adults over 50 years. The diag-nosis is based on the clinic that is composed of headache, polymyalgia rheumatic, sensitivity near the temporal artery, compromise of the general condition, among other things, added to a laboratory that is evidenced like severe acute phase reactants and anemia and finally, is confirmed with temporal artery biopsy. Methods: a case report of a patient who debuted with headache and increased facial volume that led to a wrong diagnosis of facial cellulite. Because of this atypical presentation of the disease, the diagnostic took more time than usual and delayed the accurate diagnosis and timely treatment; this could have caused irreversible consequences. Results:giant cell arteritis has a wide range of atypical presentations; this may occur even up to 38% of patients that have this disease; manifes-tations include: trigeminal neuralgia, lingual infarct, aortic aneurysm, facial edema, and other symptoms. Conclusion: it is important to study the atypical presentations of this pathology because they are usually founded in patients. If we are informed about the atypical presentations, we can increase our clinical suspicion, and that allows us to get the right diagnosis and opportune treatment, avoiding irreversible consequences because of a late diagnosis.