Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Zhonghua Xin Xue Guan Bing Za Zhi 2020 May 26;48(0):E018. Epub 2020 May 26.

Administration Office, Shenzhen Third People's Hospitle, Shenzhen 518112, China.

To analyse the clinical history, laboratory tests and pathological data of a patient who suffered from novel coronavirus pneumonia(COVID-19) and provide reference for the clinical treatment of similar cases. Data of clinical manifestation, laboratory examination, bronchoscopy, echocardiography and cardiopulmonary pathological results were retrospectively reviewed in a case of COVID-19 with rapid exacerbation from mild to critical condition. This patient hospitalized at day 9 post 2019 novel coronavirus(2019-nCoV) infection, experienced progressive deterioration from mild to severe at day 11, severe to critical at day 18 and underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO) and continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT) as well as heart lung transplantation during day 28-45 day post infection, and died on the second day post heart and lung transplantation. Read More

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2020 May 26. Epub 2020 May 26.

Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

We report on an 86-year-old woman with disfiguring skin lesions on her face, referred to us in spring 2017. Her medical history was clear except for an arterial hypertension and a bilateral hilar and peribronchial lymphadenopathy. In 2015 the asymptomatic patient was seen by a pneumologist for a function testing in view of the findings on chest CT scan. Read More

Am J Perinatol 2020 May 26. Epub 2020 May 26.

Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, California.

Objective:  This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC) admission risk criteria for stratifying postpartum hemorrhage risk in a large obstetrics population.

Study Design:  Using detailed electronic health record data, we classified 261,964 delivery hospitalizations from Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals between 2010 and 2017 into high-, medium-, and low-risk groups based on CMQCC criteria. We used logistic regression to assess associations between CMQCC risk groups and postpartum hemorrhage using two different postpartum hemorrhage definitions, standard postpartum hemorrhage (blood loss ≥1,000 mL) and severe postpartum hemorrhage (based on transfusion, laboratory, and blood loss data). Read More

J Nutr 2020 May 26. Epub 2020 May 26.

Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and Idipaz, Madrid, Spain.

Background: Part of the health benefits of coffee reported in observational studies might be due to health status influencing coffee intake rather than the opposite.

Objective: We examined whether changes in health influenced subsequent reports of no coffee consumption in older adults.

Methods: Data came from 718 coffee drinkers aged ≥60 y recruited in the Seniors-Estudio de Nutrición y Salud Cardiovascular en España (ENRICA) cohort in 2008-2010 (wave 0) and followed-up in 2012 (wave 1), 2015 (wave 2), and 2017 (wave 3). Read More

Ophthalmol Glaucoma 2019 Nov-Dec;2(6):374-382. Epub 2019 Jul 31.

Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Purpose: To explore patients' perspectives and experiences living with glaucoma and identify important benefits and risks that patients consider before electing for new glaucoma treatments, such as minimally invasive glaucoma surgical (MIGS) devices.

Design: Semi-structured, in-person qualitative interviews with patients seen at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute.

Participants: Adults older than 21 years of age who were suspected or diagnosed with ocular hypertension or mild to moderate primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) (and thus eligible for treatment with a MIGS procedure) presenting to a glaucoma clinic in Baltimore, Maryland, between May and December 2016. Read More

J Scleroderma Relat Disord 2020 Mar 5;5(2 Suppl):48-60. Epub 2020 Mar 5.

National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a progressive vasculopathic, fibrosing autoimmune condition, portending significant mortality; wherein interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the leading cause of death. Although lacking a definitive cure, therapeutics for (SSc-ILD) that stave progression exist with further promising primary and adjuvant compounds in development, as well as interventions to reduce symptom burden and increase quality of life. To date, there has been a significant but varied history related to systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease trial design and endpoint designation. Read More

Int J Food Sci 2020 7;2020:9081686. Epub 2020 May 7.

College of Food Science and Engineering, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.

The rise in consumption of energy-dense foods has resulted in the displacement of several essential dietary gaps, causing numerous long-lasting diseases, including obesity, stroke, hypertension, and several forms of cancer. Epidemiological studies encourage more fruit consumption to prevent these diseases. The defensive mechanisms provided by these fruits against illness are due to the existence of several antioxidants. Read More

Cureus 2020 Apr 23;12(4):e7792. Epub 2020 Apr 23.

Internal Medicine, John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, USA.

A 48-year-old lady presented with a parotid mass found to be secondary to recurrent sialadenitis. She was also found to have microcytic anemia, renal dysfunction, an elevated gamma gap, and an isolated alkaline phosphatase elevation. Later, she developed altered mental status and shock, and was found to have adrenal insufficiency, pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary nodules. Read More

Cardiol Res Pract 2020 12;2020:9352518. Epub 2020 May 12.

Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.

Objectives: The number and activity of circulating EPCs were enhanced in premenopausal women contrast to postmenopausal females and age-matched males. Here, we investigated whether this favorable effect exists in premenopausal women and age-matched men with cigarette smoking.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, the number and activity of circulating EPCs and nitric oxide production (NO) as well as flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) in both premenopausal women and age-matched men with or without cigarette smoking were studied. Read More

Cardiol Res Pract 2020 12;2020:5091490. Epub 2020 May 12.

Department of Cardiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.

Background: The impact of sex on the outcome of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has been suggested, but little is known about its impact on elderly patients with ACS.

Methods: This study analyzed the impact of sex on in-hospital and 1-year outcomes of elderly (≥75 years of age) patients with ACS hospitalized in our department between January 2013 and December 2017.

Results: A total of 711 patients were included: 273 (38. Read More

Cardiol Res Pract 2020 5;2020:2617970. Epub 2020 May 5.

Department of Internal Medicine (DIMI) Clinic of Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.

Methods: This review is based on the material obtained via MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and Clinical Trials databases, from January 1980 until May 2019. The search term used was "Alzheimer's disease," combined with "cardiovascular disease," "hypertension," "dyslipidaemia," "diabetes mellitus," "atrial fibrillation," "coronary artery disease," "heart valve disease," and "heart failure." Out of the 1,328 papers initially retrieved, 431 duplicates and 216 records in languages other than English were removed. Read More

Int J Hypertens 2020 11;2020:2374231. Epub 2020 May 11.

Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Center of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China.

Objective: The increased blood pressure level in children and adolescents is recognized as an essential predictor of adulthood cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to ascertain the prevalence and the urban-rural disparity of childhood hypertension in the southwest of China.

Methods: Using stratified cluster sampling in urban and rural areas, a total of 13597 primary school children aged 6∼12 years living in the Southwest of China were included. Read More

J Ophthalmol 2020 2;2020:6707239. Epub 2020 May 2.

Retinal & Vitreous Diseases Department of Wuhan Aier Eye Hospital, Aier Ophthalmic College of Central-South University, Wuhan 430064, China.

Background: Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with choroidal detachment (RRDCD) is rare and the prognosis is poor. This retrospective study evaluated the effect of preoperative steroid on the clinical outcome of patients with RRDCD receiving 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV).

Methods: Sixty-six patients (67 eyes) with diagnosed RRDCD underwent 23-gauge PPV. Read More

Oxid Med Cell Longev 2020 8;2020:1954398. Epub 2020 May 8.

Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas/Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Cidade Universitária-Campus I, Caixa Postal 5009, 58.051-970 João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.

The global population above 60 years has been growing exponentially in the last decades, which is accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of age-related chronic diseases, highlighting cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, and heart failure. Aging is the main risk factor for these diseases. Such susceptibility to disease is explained, at least in part, by the increase of oxidative stress, in which it damages cellular components such as proteins, DNA, and lipids. Read More

Dis Markers 2020 12;2020:2696173. Epub 2020 May 12.

Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, UPO, Novara, Italy.

Background: Few biomarkers are available for early identification of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) in systemic sclerosis (SS) and scleroderma spectrum disorders (SSD).

Aims: To evaluate Gas6, sAxl, and sMer as biomarkers for cardiopulmonary complications of SS and SSD.

Methods: In a cross-sectional observational study, we recruited 125 consecutive patients, affected by SS and SSD and referred to a tertiary-level pulmonary hypertension outpatient clinic. Read More

J Trop Med 2020 6;2020:4083252. Epub 2020 May 6.

Department of Medical Parasitology, CMHS, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.

Background: Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that resides in the vascular system of vertebrates, causing a chronic, debilitating disease that affects more than 200 million people and 800,000 deaths per year in over 70 countries. This parasite causes liver dysfunction and disorders normal hematological and biochemical profiles in addition to portal vein hypertension syndrome, ascites, and liver fibrosis. The general objective of the current study is to assess hematological and biochemical profiles of patients infected with in comparison with apparently healthy individuals (control group) in Sanja town, northwest Ethiopia. Read More

Case Rep Med 2020 9;2020:4065452. Epub 2020 May 9.

Faculdade de Medicina Do ABC, Santo André, Brazil.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a highly prevalent disease with rapid universal growth. In 2013, there were already 382 million people with diabetes, and it is expected that by 2035, this number will double. Chronic hyperglycemia causes a series of biochemical and structural changes, especially in the eyes, kidneys, heart, arteries, and peripheral nerves, which usually leads to the progression of microvascular disease. Read More

Adv Med Sci 2020 May 23;65(2):298-303. Epub 2020 May 23.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support, Medical University of Silesia, Silesian Center for Heart Disease, Zabrze, Poland.

Purpose: We sought to determine the predictors of restoration of heart transplantation (HTx) candidacy in patients with systolic heart failure (HF) and reactive fixed pulmonary hypertension (RFPH) defined as pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) > 2.5 Wood units (WU), transpulmonary gradient (TPG) > 12 mmHg or ≤2.5 WU with systolic arterial pressure ≤85 mmHg during vasoreactivity test, following sildenafil therapy. Read More

J Nutr Biochem 2020 Apr 17;82:108401. Epub 2020 Apr 17.

Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. Electronic address:

Honey is a natural product, containing flavonoids and phenolic acids, appreciated for its therapeutic abilities since ancient times. Although the bioactive potential is linked to the composition, that is variable depending on mainly the botanical origin, honey has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, honey, administered alone or in combination with conventional therapy, might result useful in the management of chronic diseases that are commonly associated with oxidative stress and inflammation state. Read More

EBioMedicine 2020 May 23;56:102794. Epub 2020 May 23.

Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Background: BMP9, originating from the liver, and BMP10 are circulating BMPs that preserve vascular endothelial integrity. We assessed BMP9, BMP10 and soluble endoglin (sEng) levels and their relationships to liver disease severity and associated pulmonary vascular syndromes in a cohort of well-characterised liver disease patients.

Methods: Plasma samples from patients with liver disease (n = 83) and non-disease controls (n = 21) were assayed for BMP9, BMP10 and sEng. Read More

Nutrition 2020 Mar 6;78:110793. Epub 2020 Mar 6.

Nephrology Laboratory, Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address:

Background: Impaired phagocytic function has been established in uremic patients. Chemotaxis, particle ingestion, and free radical and metabolic activity were all found to be disturbed in dialysis patients. Malnutrition is common among hemodialysis (HD) patients, with an estimated prevalence of 40% to 70%. Read More

Neuropharmacology 2020 May 23:108159. Epub 2020 May 23.

Center for Neuroscience and Pain Research, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. Electronic address:

The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) plays a major role in generating increased sympathetic output in hypertension. Although group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are expressed in the hypothalamus, little is known about their contribution to regulating PVN presympathetic neurons in hypertension. Here we show that activating group III mGluRs with L-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (L-AP4) consistently inhibited the firing activity of spinally projecting PVN neurons in normotensive rats. Read More

Kidney Int 2020 May 23. Epub 2020 May 23.

Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi. Electronic address:

Blood pressure and kidney function have a bidirectional relation. Hypertension has long been considered as a risk factor for kidney function decline. However, whether intensive blood; pressure control could promote kidney health has been uncertain. Read More

Funct Neurol 2019 Jul/Sep;34(3):167-176

Management of acute stroke varies greatly within and between different countries. This study assesses the current practices of physicians in Lebanon routinely involved in ischemic stroke (IS) management. We conducted a prospective observational study of patients hospitalized at 8 different Lebanese hospitals in the period August 1, 2015 to July 31, 2016, with a diagnosis of acute stroke. Read More

Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2020 May 26. Epub 2020 May 26.

UCSF, 8785, Medicine , San Francisco, California, United States.

In this State-of-the-Field article, we explore the main themes from the 62nd Annual Aspen Lung Conference: hypoxia, cellular metabolism, inflammatory pathways, aberrant proliferation, and personalized medicine, and highlight challenges and opportunities in the coming decade of pulmonary vascular disease. Read More

Clin Transplant 2020 May 26:e13992. Epub 2020 May 26.

Liver Transplant Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China.

Objective: To analyze the incidence and risk factors of portal vein stenosis (PVS) in pediatric liver transplantation (LT).

Methods: This retrospective analysis of 396 cases of pediatric LT (patients aged ≤14 years old) was conducted at the Liver Transplantation Center of Beijing Friendship Hospital (China) from June 2013 to December 2017. We collected relevant data and calculated the incidence. Read More

J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020 May 26. Epub 2020 May 26.

Center for Liver and Pancreatobiliary Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea.

To evaluate whether presence of varices on CT could predict treatment outcome for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.

Methods: We enrolled 241 patients with single HCC≤5cm treated by surgery. Using preoperative CT/endoscopy, patients were classified into: presence of standard clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) surrogate, defined as varices on esophagogastroduodenoscopy and/or thrombocytopenia with splenomegaly (group 1, n=47); Varices on CT without standard CSPH surrogate (group 2, n=45); and none of both (group 3, n=149). Read More

Transpl Infect Dis 2020 May 26:e13341. Epub 2020 May 26.

Department of Nephrology, Arterial Hypertension, Dialysis and Transplantation, Department of Urology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.

Background: The aim of this study is to determine the incidence, etiology, clinical characteristics and outcomes of renal transplant recipients diagnosed and treated for central nervous system (CNS) infection at our institution.

Methods: We analysed data from all renal transplant recipients between January 2007 and December 2019 that were diagnosed and treated for CNS infections at our institution.

Results: Of 1374 patients who received renal allografts, 13 were diagnosed with CNS infections (9 males), with a mean age of 53. Read More

J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 2020 May;57(3):154-158

Purpose: To examine the clinical profile of sympathetic ophthalmia among the pediatric age group.

Methods: Retrospective review of patients 18 years and younger with sympathetic ophthalmia seen in a tertiary eye care center between 1997 and 2017.

Results: Of 20 patients included in the study, 70% were male. Read More

Blood Adv 2020 May;4(10):2351-2365

Michael G. DeGroote Cochrane Canada Centre.

Background: Methods for the development of clinical guidelines have advanced dramatically over the past 2 decades to strive for trustworthiness, transparency, user-friendliness, and rigor. The American Society of Hematology (ASH) guidelines on venous thromboembolism (VTE) have followed these advances, together with application of methodological innovations.

Objective: In this article, we describe methods and methodological innovations as a model to inform future guideline enterprises by ASH and others to achieve guideline standards. Read More

J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2020 May 26. Epub 2020 May 26.

Department of Surgical, Medical Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine.

Purpose: It is unclear whether plasma homocysteine (Hcy) has a direct noxious impact on cardiovascular (CV) system or whether its association with cardiovascular events (CVE) is mediated by established risk factors. To explore the role of Hcy in CV impairment, the study evaluated cross-sectional relationships between plasma Hcy and indices of CV organ damage together with the associations of these indices with the history of CVE.

Methods: In 269 patients with a high prevalence of diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension were measured carotid intima-media thickness, ankle-brachial index (ABI), reactive hyperemic index, carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (cfPWV), left ventricular (LV) mass and cardiac index. Read More

Am J Hypertens 2020 May 26. Epub 2020 May 26.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing MI, USA.

The protein chemerin (tazarotene induced gene, TIG2; RARRES2) is a relatively new adipokine. Many studies support that circulating chemerin levels associate strongly and positively with BMI, visceral fat and blood pressure. Here, we focus on the specific relationship of chemerin and blood pressure with the goal of understanding whether and how chemerin drives (pathological) changes in blood pressure such that it could be interfered with therapeutically. Read More

Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2020 May 26. Epub 2020 May 26.

Brigham and Women's Hospital Biomedical Research Institute, 278479, Boston, Massachusetts, United States;

Neoplasma 2020 May 26. Epub 2020 May 26.

Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States.

Many cancer cells share the property of carrying out markedly elevated rates of glycolysis to generate energy even in the presence of sufficient oxygen, and this is known as the Warburg effect. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the Warburg effect, as the field of oncology has amassed evidence that cellular metabolism may play a prominent role in many neoplasms. Largely in the past decade, another prominent and perhaps surprising factor has emerged in the cancer literature: the catecholamine molecules, epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), appear to play a role in tumorigenesis and metastasis. Read More

Diabetes Metab Res Rev 2020 May 26:e3352. Epub 2020 May 26.

SP, Brazil.

Background And Aim: 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11βHSD1) has been implicated in insulin resistance (IR) in the setting of metabolic disorders, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in its encoding gene (HSD11B1) have been associated with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In type 1 diabetes (T1D), IR has been related to the development of chronic complications. We investigated the association of HSD11B1 SNPs with microvascular complications and with IR in a Brazilian cohort of T1D individuals. Read More

JAMA 2020 May;323(20):2039-2051

Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Importance: Deprescribing of antihypertensive medications is recommended for some older patients with polypharmacy and multimorbidity when the benefits of continued treatment may not outweigh the harms.

Objective: This study aimed to establish whether antihypertensive medication reduction is possible without significant changes in systolic blood pressure control or adverse events during 12-week follow-up.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The Optimising Treatment for Mild Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly (OPTIMISE) study was a randomized, unblinded, noninferiority trial conducted in 69 primary care sites in England. Read More

JAMA Intern Med 2020 May 26. Epub 2020 May 26.

Department of Finance, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Importance: Many employers use workplace wellness programs to improve employee health and reduce medical costs, but randomized evaluations of their efficacy are rare.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a comprehensive workplace wellness program on employee health, health beliefs, and medical use after 12 and 24 months.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This randomized clinical trial of 4834 employees of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was conducted from August 9, 2016, to April 26, 2018. Read More

Ther Drug Monit 2020 May 19. Epub 2020 May 19.

Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA.

Background: A modified-release version of tacrolimus, LCP-tacrolimus (LCPT; Envarsus XR, Veloxis Pharmaceuticals), has been licensed in the United States for prophylaxis of organ rejection in de novo kidney transplant patients. As tacrolimus has a narrow therapeutic window, the impact of circadian patterns on LCPT drug exposure, including food and chronopharmacokinetic effects, needs to be elucidated to optimize dosing.

Methods: Two randomized, crossover, Phase 1 studies were conducted in healthy volunteers. Read More

Menopause 2020 May 25. Epub 2020 May 25.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.

Objective: Many studies have reported that body composition might be associated with cardiovascular disease, but the issue has not been fully investigated in postmenopausal women.

Methods: This retrospective study comprised 582 postmenopausal women without a history of cardiovascular disease who visited the Health Promotion Center between May 2008 and February 2018. All women were screened for body fat composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis and for degree of coronary artery calcification (CAC) by multidetector computed tomography. Read More

Clin Nucl Med 2020 May 20. Epub 2020 May 20.

From the Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

Liposarcoma is a common soft tissue sarcoma in retroperitoneum, but adrenal liposarcoma is rare. We here described a 61-year-old man with left-upper-quadrant pain, hypertension, and weight loss. Abdominal CT showed a large, heterogeneously enhanced mass on the left adrenal area, which compressed the surrounding pancreas, spleen, and left kidney. Read More

Curr Opin Cardiol 2020 May 20. Epub 2020 May 20.

Montefiore Medical Center.

Purpose Of Review: Hypertension is a common, modifiable precursor to heart failure. Lifetime risk for development varies across age, sex, race and ability to achieve adequate blood pressure control.

Recent Findings: Although meta-analyses seemingly support intensive blood pressure control to reduce incident heart failure, randomized clinical trials are limited and do not enroll a large number of female, minority, elderly or treatment-resistant patients. Read More

Curr Opin Cardiol 2020 May 20. Epub 2020 May 20.

Seinsheimer Cardiovascular Health Program, Division of Cardiology, Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.

Purpose Of Review: This article will summarize the effects of more intensive blood pressure (BP) control on cardiovascular, cognitive, and renal outcomes among elderly (age ≥75 years) individuals at high risk for cardiovascular events. Subsets of patients who may not benefit and obstacles to implementation will be addressed. The authors' insights will conclude the review. Read More

Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 2020 May 20. Epub 2020 May 20.

Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, and Center for Translational Metabolism and Health, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Purpose Of Review: Hyperphosphatemia, iron deficiency, and anemia are powerful stimuli of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) production and are highly prevalent complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this manuscript, we put in perspective the newest insights on FGF23 regulation by iron and phosphate and their effects on CKD progression and associated outcomes. We especially focus on new studies aiming to reduce FGF23 levels, and we present new data that suggest major benefits of combined corrections of iron, phosphate, and FGF23 in CKD. Read More

Vasa 2020 May 26:1-7. Epub 2020 May 26.

Inserm U 1094 & IRD, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Epidemiology and Tropical Neurology, University of Limoges, Limoges, France.

: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is one of the most common manifestations of atherosclerosis affecting more than 200 million people globally but little is known about its epidemiology in Middle East populations, particularly in Arab countries. The present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of PAD in the general population aged 40 years and more in Gaza-Palestine, and to determine the prevalence of its associated risk factors. : The study design was a cross-sectional with a stratified proportional sampling, involving the five governorates in Gaza Strip. Read More

ESC Heart Fail 2020 May 26. Epub 2020 May 26.

Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic utility of the QRS-T angle, an electrocardiogram (ECG) marker quantifying depolarization-repolarization heterogeneity, in patients with suspected acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

Methods And Results: We prospectively enrolled unselected patients presenting to the emergency department with symptoms suggestive of ADHF. The QRS-T angle was automatically derived from a standard 12-lead ECG recorded at presentation. Read More

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2020 May 26. Epub 2020 May 26.

Liver Unit, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.

Background: Early-transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt (TIPSS) has been recommended in international guidelines for high-risk patients with oesophageal variceal bleeding.

Aims: To validate the results of a previous randomised control trial which supports use of early-TIPSS.

Methods: In a two-centre open-label parallel-group randomised control trial, patients with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding were recruited following haemostasis with vaso-active drugs and endoscopic band ligation. Read More

Clin Sci (Lond) 2020 May 26. Epub 2020 May 26.

University of Padua, Padova, Italy.

Drug-resistant hypertension (RH) is a very high-risk condition involving many hypertensive patients, in whom primary aldosteronism (PA) is commonly overlooked. Hence, we aimed at determining if 1) adrenal vein sampling (AVS) can identify PA in RH patients, who are challenging because receiving multiple interfering drugs; 2) AVS-guided adrenalectomy can resolve high blood pressure resistance to treatment in these patients. Based on a pilot study we selected from 1016 consecutive patients referred to our Centre for "difficult-to-treat" hypertension those with RH, for an observational prospective cohort study. Read More

Med Sci (Paris) 2020 May 26;36(5):455-458. Epub 2020 May 26.

Inserm UMR_S1155, Hôpital Tenon, 4 rue de la Chine, 75020 Paris, France. - Faculté de médecine, Sorbonne université, Paris, France.

Cardiol Young 2020 May 26:1-2. Epub 2020 May 26.

Division of Cardiology, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.

A 14-year-old boy was receiving subcutaneous infusions of treprostinil for pulmonary artery hypertension. Because he had severe infusion site pain in the lower abdomen, we changed his infusion site to the upper buttocks, adding some analgesics. His pain improved gradually. Read More

Vasc Endovascular Surg 2020 May 26:1538574420927551. Epub 2020 May 26.

The Pat and Jim Calhoun Cardiovascular Center, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA.

Isolated external iliac vein compression syndrome is an uncommon cause of nonthrombotic venous stenosis that causes chronic venous hypertension leading to painful swelling, skin discoloration, and ulcer formation. We present a case of an 86-year old man with refractory lower extremity edema for several years who had been treated with diuretics and antibiotics without relief of symptoms. With the help of invasive and noninvasive imaging modalities, we were able to diagnose and manage isolated nonthrombotic left external iliac vein stenosis as a result of ipsilateral external iliac artery compression. Read More