non-AS Group Research Articles

Relationship between diastolic hyperemia-free ratio and fractional flow reserve in patients with aortic valve stenosis

Abstract Background Diastolic hyperemia-free Ratio (DFR) is new resting index and uses a pragmatic definition by including areas below the average aortic pressure with negative slope. Aortic valve stenosis (AS) exhibits left ventricular hypertrophy and impaired microcirculation. The relationship between DFR and fractional flow reserve (FFR) in the patients with AS has not been yet investigated. Purpose We aimed to compare DFR and FFR in each of AS group and Non-AS group and to elucidate a suitable DFR cut-off value predicting less than 0.80 of FFR. Methods We enrolled 761 consecutive patients (1033 vessels) who underwent both DFR and FFR in the intermediate coronary artery stenosis between July 2020 and December 2023 in our hospital. We compared the DFR values with FFR values between AS group and Non-AS group. AS was defined as an aortic valve area of 1.5 cm2 or less, a mean aortic valve gradient of 20 mm Hg or more, or a peak aortic-jet velocity of 3.0 m/s or more. Results AS group consisted of 55 patients and Non-AS group consisted of 706 patients. A good correlation between DFR and FFR was observed in AS group (R=0.713; p < 0.0001) and Non-AS group (R=0.758; p < 0.0001). The patient backgrounds were similar between AS and Non-AS groups (Table). Regarding physiological findings, DFR in AS group was significantly lower than in Non-AS group (0.83 ± 0.12 vs. 0.88 ± 0.11, p < 0.0001), but FFR was similar (0.80 ± 0.07 vs. 0.81 ± 0.10, p = 0.12). Receiver operating characteristic curve showed that a suitable cut off value of DFR for equivalent FFR value of 0.80 was 0.85 in AS group and 0.89 in Non-AS group, respectively (Figure). Conclusion In the patients with AS, DFR may overestimate intermediate coronary artery stenosis and the suitable cut off value was 0.85.2024 ESC AS DFR Table2024 ESC AS DFR Figure

A Real-Life Study in Patients Newly Diagnosed with Autoimmune Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Analysis of Asthenia as Admission Complaint

Background: Amid the large panel of autoimmune thyroid diseases, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) represents a major point across multidisciplinary daily practice. When it comes to the clinical picture, particularly in regard to asthenia (also described as “fatigue” or “decreased energy”), the differential diagnosis is challenging, and a meticulous anamnesis should be backed up by focused lab investigations. Our objective was to analyze the thyroid panel in newly diagnosed patients with HT in relationship with the presence of asthenia as an admission complaint. Methods: This was a retrospective, multi-centric, real-life study conducted in secondary endocrine units (university hospitals) from July 2022 to July 2023. The exclusion criteria were COVID-19 infection; an active malignancy, etc. Results: The cohort (N = 120) included an asthenia group (AS, 49.2%) and a non-AS group of a similar age (49.3 ± 14.7 vs. 47.1 ± 14.8 y, p = 0.426). Headache was more frequent in the AS group (35.6% vs. 18%, p = 0.03). Thyroid function and HT-related antibodies assays were similar between the groups and show no correlation with serum total cholesterol and triglycerides, respectively. TSH levels did not vary among the age sub-groups (p = 0.701). One third of the studied population was affected by hypothyroidism (TSH > 4.5 μIU/mL), being seen at a higher rate in the AS (39%) vs. non-AS group (23%). Total cholesterol positively correlated with the patients’ age (r = 0.180, p = 0.049) and triglycerides (N = 120; r = 0.324, p < 0.001), as found only in the non-AS group (r = 0.246, p = 0.006, respectively, r = 0.319, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The analysis of the AS vs. non-AS group pinpointed the fact that, in regard to daily practice, asthenia as an admission complaint seems less of an indicator of an underlying thyroid dysfunction or a higher level of serum antibodies against thyroid in patients without a full clinical picture of thyrotoxicosis or myxoedema.

Role of tenofovir dipivoxil in gut microbiota recovery from HBV-infection induced dysbiosis

BackgroundStudies have found dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in individuals infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Tenofovir dipivoxil (TDF) is one of the preferred oral antiviral drugs used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but the extent to which TDF is able to affect the gut microbiota and inflammatory factors of a patient remains largely unexplored. In this study, we collected stool samples from HBV patients prior to medication and from CHB patients treated with TDF.ResultsThe gut microbiota and inflammatory factors were assessed in 42 healthy subjects (HC group), 109 HBV-infected subjects, including 48 CHB patients who were not medicated with nucleoside analogue drugs (No-NAs group), and 61 CHB patients who were medicated with TDF (TDF group). 16 S rRNA sequencing revealed that TDF treatment caused significant changes in the gut microbiota of HBV-infected individuals; however, the gut microbiota of HBV-infected individuals did not fully recover to a pre-dysbiosis state. The relative abundance of Bacteroidota gradually decreased from the HC group to the No-NAs and TDF groups. The relative abundance of Fusobacteriota was significantly higher in the No-NAs group than in the HC group. At the genus level, Dialister, Eubacterium_hallii_group, Halomonas, Collinsella, Sphingomonas, Xanthomonadaceae_unclassified, and Rhizobiaceae_unclassified were overrepresented; while the abundance of Bacteroides and Fusobacterium decreased significantly in the No-NAs and TDF groups.ConclusionsThis study showed that TDF treatment significantly improved the regulation of the gut microbiota and aided in dysbiosis recovery. We did not observe significant improvement in serum inflammatory factor concentrations, which may be related to the relatively short duration of TDF administration in this study.

The impact of anastomotic leakage characteristics on the occurrence of anastomotic stenosis after colorectal resection, a retrospective cohort study.

Anastomotic stenosis (AS) is a common complication after colorectal resection. However, the predisposing factors for stricture formation are not fully understood. Previous studies have shown anastomotic leakage (AL) to be a risk factor for the occurrence of AS. Therefore, we aim to investigate the impact of anastomotic leakage characteristics on the occurrence of anastomotic stenosis after colorectal resection. Consecutive patients with AL following elective, sphincter preserving, colorectal resection, with or without diversion ostomy, between January 2009 and March 2023 were identified from a prospectively collected database. The characteristics of the anastomotic leakage, patient baseline and operative characteristics as well as the postoperative outcomes were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify factors associated with the occurrence of post-leakage AS. A total of 129 patients developed AL and met the inclusion criteria. Among these, 28 (21.7%) patients were diagnosed with post-leakage AS. There was a significantly higher frequency of patients with neoadjuvant radiotherapy (18% vs 3%; p = .026) and hand-sewn anastomoses (39% vs 17%; p = .011) within the AS group. Furthermore, the extent of the anastomotic defect was significantly higher in the AS group compared with the non-AS group (50%, IQR 27-71 vs. 20%, IQR 9-40, p = 0.011). Similar findings were observed between the study groups regarding age, sex, BMI, ASA score, medical comorbidities, diagnosis, surgical procedure, surgical approach (open vs. minimally invasive), and anastomotic fashioning (side-to-end vs. end-to-end). On multivariate analysis, the extent of the anastomotic defect (OR 1.01; 95% CI 1.00-1.03; p = 0.034) and hand-sewn anastomoses (OR 2.68; 95% CI 1.01-6.98; p = 0.043) were confirmed as independent risk factors for post-leakage AS. No correlation could be observed between the occurrence of post-leakage AS and the ISREC grading of AL, the anastomotic height or the management of AL. Time to ostomy reversal was significantly longer in the AS group (202d, IQR 169-275 vs. 318d IQR 192-416, p = 0.014). The extent of the anastomotic defect and hand-sewn anastomoses were confirmed as independent risk factors for the occurrence of post-leakage AS. No correlation could be observed between the ISREC grading of AL, the anastomotic height or AL management, and the occurrence of post-leakage AS.

Determining the Risk Factors for Anastomotic Stricture Development after Esophageal Atresia Repair: Results from the Turkish Esophageal Atresia Registry.

Anastomotic stricture (AS) is the second most common complication after esophageal atresia (EA) repair. We aimed to evaluate the data in the Turkish Esophageal Atresia Registry to determine the risk factors for AS development after EA repair in a large national cohort of patients. The data between 2015 and 2021 were evaluated. Patients were enrolled into two groups according to the occurrence of AS. Patients with AS (AS group) and without AS (non-AS group) were compared according to demographic and operative features, postoperative intubation status, and postoperative complications, such as anastomotic leaks, fistula recanalization, and the presence of gastroesophageal reflux (GER). A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to define the risk factors for the development of AS after EA repair. Among the 713 cases, 144 patients (20.19%) were enrolled into the AS group and 569 (79.81%) in the non-AS group. The multivariable logistic regression showed that, being a term baby (odds ratio [OR]: 1.706; p = 0.006), having a birth weight over 2,500 g (OR: 1.72; p = 0.006), presence of GER (OR: 5.267; p < 0.001), or having a recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF, OR: 4.363; p = 0.006) were the risk factors for the development of AS. The results of our national registry demonstrate that 20% of EA patients developed AS within their first year of life. In patients with early primary anastomosis, birth weight greater than 2,500 g and presence of GER were risk factors for developing AS. When patients with delayed anastomosis were included, in addition to the previous risk factors, being a term baby, and having recurrent TEF also became risk factors. III.

Analysis of risk factors for axial symptoms after posterior cervical open-door laminoplasty

BackgroundLaminoplasty (LP), a procedure commonly used to treat cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), often results in the development of axial symptoms (AS) postoperatively. This study aims to analyze the risk factors associated with the occurrence of AS after LP.MethodsWe collected and evaluated clinical data from 264 patients with CSM who underwent LP treatment at our institution from January 2018 to January 2022 through a single-center retrospective study. Of the patients, 153 were male and 111 were female, with an average age of 58.1 ± 6.7 years. All patients underwent C3-7 posterior laminoplasty. Based on the occurrence of postoperative axial symptoms, the patients were divided into an AS group and a non-AS group. General information, including age, gender, disease duration, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, postoperation early function training, and collar-wearing time, was recorded and compared between the two groups. Surgical-related data, such as operative segments, surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative facet joint destruction, and destruction of the C7 spinous process muscle insertion, were also compared. Imaging data, including preoperative cervical curvature, cervical range of motion, preoperative encroachment rate of the anterior spinal canal, and angle of laminar opening, were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for the development of AS after LP, and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were utilized to explore the optimal preoperative parameters.ResultsAll 264 patients successfully underwent surgery and were followed up for an average of 19.5 ± 6.8 months. At the 6-month follow-up, 117 patients were diagnosed with AS, resulting in an incidence rate of 40.2%. The multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that preoperative encroachment rate of anterior spinal canal (Pre-op ERASC), intraoperative facet joints destruction (Intra-op FJD), intraoperative open-door angle (Intra-op OA), destroy the C7 spinous process muscle insertion (Destroy C7 SPMI), postoperative loss of cervical curvature (Post-op LCC), and postoperative loss of cervical range of motion (Post-op LCROM) were independent risk factors for AS. Conversely, preoperative cervical curvature (Pre-op CC) and postoperation early function training (Post-op EFT) were protective factors against AS. According to the ROC curve, the cutoff values for preoperative anterior spinal canal occupation rate and preoperative cervical curvature were 28.5% and 16.5°, respectively. When the preoperative anterior spinal canal occupation rate was greater than 28.5% or the preoperative cervical curvature was less than 16.5°, AS was more likely to occur after surgery.ConclusionHigh preoperative anterior spinal canal occupation rate, facet joint damage during surgery, C7 spinous process muscle stop point damage, larger angle of laminar opening, and greater postoperative cervical curvature loss and cervical range of motion loss are associated with an increased risk of developing AS after cervical laminoplasty. Conversely, a larger preoperative cervical curvature and early postoperative functional exercises can help reduce the occurrence of AS.

Postoperative outcomes, predictors and trends of mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery with underlying aortic stenosis: a nationwide inpatient sample analysis

BackgroundHip fractures frequently necessitate hospitalization, especially among patients aged 75 and above who might concurrently suffer from aortic stenosis (AS). This study focuses on postoperative outcomes, potential determinants of morbidity and mortality, as well as evolving trends in patients with AS undergoing surgical repair of hip fractures.MethodsA retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2008 to 2019 was conducted. Hip fracture cases were identified, and a subgroup with AS was isolated using the ICD-9 and ICD-10 diagnostic codes. We compared baseline characteristics, postoperative in-hospital outcomes and trends in mortality and morbidity between patients with and without AS.ResultsFrom the dataset, 2,834,919 patients with hip fracture were identified on weighted analysis. Of these, 94,270 (3.3%) were found to have concurrent AS. The AS cohort was characterized by higher mean age and elevated burden of cardiovascular comorbidities, such as coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, pulmonary hypertension, congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias. Postoperative mortality following hip fracture surgery was greater in the AS groups compared to non-AS group (3.3% vs 1.57%, p < 0.001). Risk factors such as congestive heart failure (OR, 2.3[CI, 2.1–2.6]), age above 85 years (OR, 3.2[CI, 2.2–4.7]), cardiac arrhythmias (OR, 2.4[CI, 2.2–2.6]), end-stage renal disease (OR, 3.4[CI, 2.7–4.1]), malnutrition (OR, 2.3[CI, 2.1–2.7]) and AS (OR, 1.2[CI, 1.08–1.5] were associated with increased adjusted odds of postoperative mortality. AS was linked to higher adjusted odds of postoperative mortality (OR, 1.2 [CI, 1.1–1.5]) and complications such as acute myocardial infarction (OR, 1.2 [CI, 1.01–1.4]), cardiogenic shock (OR, 2.0[CI, 1.4–2.9]) and acute renal failure (OR, 1.1[CI, 1.02–1.2]). While hospital stay duration was comparable in both groups (average 5 days), the AS group incurred higher costs (mean $50,673 vs $44,607). The presence of acute heart failure in patients with AS and hip fracture significantly increased mortality, hospital stay, and cost. A notable decline in postoperative in-hospital mortality was observed in both groups from 2008–2019 though the rate of major in-hospital complications rose.ConclusionAS significantly influences postoperative in-hospital mortality and complication rates in hip fracture patients. While a reduction in postoperative mortality was observed in both AS and non-AS cohorts, the incidence of major in-hospital complications increased across both groups.

Difference of gut microbiota between patients with negative and positive HBeAg in chronic hepatitis B and the effect of tenofovir alafenamide on intestinal flora.

Severe liver diseases, such as liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer, are mainly caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV). This study investigated the differences between gut microbiota in HBeAg-positive and negative groups of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and investigated the effect of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) on gut microbiota. This prospective study included patients with CHB not taking nucleoside antivirals (No-NAs group, n = 95) and those taking TAF (TAF group, n = 60). We divided CHB patients into two groups according to the HBeAg status of the subjects on the day of data collection. Phase 1 are HBeAg-negative patients and phase 2 are HBeAg-positive patients. We investigated the improvement of clinical symptoms by TAF, as well as differences in gut microbiota between different groups by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. Gut microbiota demonstrated significant differences between patients with HBeAg-positive and -negative CHB. Both the No-NAs and TAF Phase 2 subgroups demonstrated significantly increased microbiota richness and diversity, showing greater heterogeneity. Additionally, the Phase 2 subgroup exhibited a low abundance of pathways associated with glucose metabolism and amino acid metabolism. The TAF group demonstrated a significantly decreased HBV load, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase and a significant increase in prealbumin compared with the No-NAs group. No significant difference was found in uric acid, creatinine, blood calcium, inorganic phosphorus, eGFR, and β2-microglobulin concentrations between the two groups. Additionally, the urea level in the TAF group was significantly lower than that in the No-NAs group, but with no significant effect on other indicators such as eGFR and β2-microglobulin. This study revealed significant differences in gut microbiota composition and function between patients with HBeAg-positive and -negative CHB.

Serum Trimethylamine N-Oxide Level Is Positively Associated with Aortic Stiffness Measured by Carotid-Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity in Patients Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis.

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a biomarker that is effective in predicting major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events. Age-related vascular problems are significantly affected by aortic stiffness (AS), which is independently linked to CV morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the association between serum TMAO levels and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) in patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) therapy. In total, 115 patients with HD were enrolled in this study. The AS group included patients whose cfPWV was >10 m/s. Using high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, the levels of serum TMAO were measured. The AS group included 42 (36.5%) patients, and compared with the non-AS group, the rates of diabetes, hypertension, older age, systolic blood pressure, serum glucose, and TMAO levels were high. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, serum TMAO and age were independently linked with AS after correcting for the factors significantly associated with AS. Following multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis, serum TMAO in these individuals was found to be strongly correlated with cfPWV values (p < 0.001). In patients on chronic HD, serum TMAO level is an independent measure of AS and strongly correlated with cfPWV.

Changes in C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, human leukocyte antigen-B27, and immunoglobulins A, G, M in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Abstract Background To explore the changes in C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), human leukocyte antigen-B27 (HLA-B27), and immunoglobulin (Ig) (IgA, IgG, and IgM) in patients suffering from ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods A total of 232 patients with axial spondyloarthritis admitted from January 2020 to December 2021 were selected, among whom 132 were AS patients (AS group) and 100 were non-AS cases (non-AS group). Meanwhile, 100 healthy subjects undergoing physical examination were included as a control group. Peripheral blood was collected to detect the levels of CRP, ESR, HLA-B27, IgA, IgG, and IgM. Results The positive rates and levels of CRP, ESR, HLA-B27, IgG, and IgM in non-AS and AS groups were significantly higher, and the IgA level of the AS group was higher than those of the control group (P&lt;0.05). The AS group had significantly higher positive rates and levels of CRP, ESR, HLA-B27, and IgA than those of the non-AS group (P&lt;0.05). The levels of HLA-B27, ESR and CRP had positive correlations with those of IgA, IgG and IgM (P&lt;0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of HLA-B27 with a cut-off value of 53.18 U/mL for the diagnosis of AS was 0.879. AUC of ESR with a cut-off value of 23.83 mm/h for the diagnosis of AS was 0.811. AUC of CRP with a cut-off value of 14.35 mg/L for the diagnosis of AS was 0.745. With the cut-off values of 2.75 g/L, respectively, AUC of IgA for the diagnosis of AS were 0.668. AUC of the combined diagnosis was 0.929 (P&lt;0.05). Conclusions AS patients have abnormally elevated levels of HLA-B27, ESR, CRP, and IgA, and the combined detection has a higher diagnostic value. The abnormal increase in IgA, IgG, and IgM is positively correlated with rheumatic inflammation marker HLA-B27, CRP, and ESR.

The Presence of Ankylosing Spondylitis and the Incidence of Subsequent External Eye Diseases: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

We aimed to survey the risk of external eye diseases in those with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) via the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan. We conducted a retrospective cohort study, and subjects diagnosed with AS were selected from the NHIRD. Then, the AS patients were matched 1:1 by propensity-score matching (PSM) to non-AS patients, and a total of 6754 participants were included in the AS and non-AS groups. The main outcomes were regarded as the occurrence of dry eye disease (DED), superficial keratopathy and corneal ulcers. We used Cox proportional hazard regression to yield the adjusted hazard ratios (AHR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) between the AS and non-AS groups. There were 709 and 408 external eye disease events that occurred in the AS and non-AS groups after a tracking interval of up to 17 years. The incidence of all external eye diseases was significantly higher in the AS group than the non-AS group (AHR: 1.826, 95% CI: 1.616−2.063, p < 0.0001). Additionally, the rates of DED (AHR: 1.973, 95% CI: 1.701−2.290, p < 0.0001) and superficial keratopathy (AHR: 1.593, 95% CI: 1.347−1.883, p < 0.0001) were significantly higher in the AS group than the non-AS group. In the sub-group analyses, the possibility of any external eye disease (p = 0.0030) and DED (p = 0.0386) was decreased in the older age group compared to those in the middle-aged group. In conclusion, AS is significantly correlated to subsequent external eye diseases, mainly the DED and superficial keratopathy.

Influence of baseline arterial stiffness on effects of intensive compared with standard blood pressure control: a post hoc analysis of the STEP trial

BackgroundThe benefits and risks of intensive versus standard systolic blood pressure (SBP) treatment in older patients with arterial stiffness (AS) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the interaction between the baseline AS and SBP treatments on cardiovascular outcomes.MethodsIn this post hoc analysis of the Strategy of Blood Pressure Intervention in the Elderly Hypertensive Patients (STEP) trial, we involved 6865 participants with complete data regarding baseline brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Patients were categorized by baseline AS status (AS, baPWV ≥ 1800 cm/s; non-AS, baPWV < 1800 cm/s). The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular events. The secondary outcomes were stroke, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), major cardiovascular events (MACE), and all-cause death. Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios for the outcomes.ResultsDuring a mean follow-up of 2.69 years, a total of 248 primary outcome events and 81 all-cause deaths occurred. The hazard ratios for the primary outcome were 0.76 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.54–1.09) and 0.63 (95% CI, 0.43–0.92) in the AS and non-AS groups, respectively (P for interaction = 0.43), and that for stroke was 0.58 (95% CI, 0.33–1.02) and 0.48 (95% CI, 0.23–0.99) in the AS and non-AS groups, respectively (P for interaction = 0.68). Effects of intensive SBP treatment on safety outcomes and all-cause death were also similar in the two groups (P for interaction > 0.05 for all).ConclusionsIn the STEP trial, the beneficial effects of intensive SBP treatment were similar among those in the AS group and the non-AS group at baseline.Trial registrationSTEP ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03015311. Registered 2 January 2017.

No increased risk of alopecia in ankylosing spondylitis patients: A population-based cohort study in Taiwan.

To investigate the association between ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and alopecia. In this cohort study, data from over 1000 000 patients in the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database were extracted. We selected newly diagnosed (outpatient department visit three or more times or admission at least once) patients with AS (ICD-9-CM=720.0) from 2000 to 2012. For the non-AS comparison group, patients never diagnosed with AS were chosen from 1999 to 2013. In all, 3640 AS patients and 14 560 non-AS controls were selected. Cox proportional hazard model and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used to present the results. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) in the Cox proportional hazard model was adjusted for age, sex, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, atopic dermatitis, and mental disorder. No increased risk of alopecia in AS patients was shown in the Cox proportional hazard model (crude HR 1.16, P=0.595; adjusted HR 1.16, P=0.599). Negative results are found as well in subgroup analysis of different age, sex (age 20-40 y: HR 1.03, P=0.925; Age ≥40 y: HR 1.49, P=0.406; Female: HR 1.17, P=0.759; Male: HR 1.15, P=0.667), and phenotypes of alopecia (androgenetic alopecia: HR 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58-2.41; alopecia areata: HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.37-2.62). A significant positive correlation is found between atopic dermatitis and alopecia (adjusted HR 8.05, P=0.039). In this population-based cohort study, we found no association of risk of alopecia and AS.

Risk Factors of Silicosis Progression: A Retrospective Cohort Study in China.

BackgroundSilicosis poses a threat to workers’ health due to the irreversible lung lesions.DesignA retrospective cohort study.MethodsA total of 259 patients [80 worked with artificial stone (AS), 179 with non-artificial stone (non-AS)] with confirmed silicosis were included in this study. Forty-one of AS and 91 of non-AS had approximately 2 years’ follow-up records [lung function tests and high-resolution computer tomography (HRCT)]. Compared with the first records, increased, densified, or newly emerging lesions in lung HRCT images were judged as progression of the disease. Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the risk factors. Kaplan–Meier survival curve and log-rank test were used to compare prognostic factors for cumulative risk of progression.ResultsIn 132 patients with median follow-up of 24.0 months (IQR, 13.8, 24.9), 66 patients showed progression, in them, 36 (87.8%) were from AS group and 30 (32.9%) from non-AS group. Working experience of AS processing (hazard ratio, 5.671; 95% CI, 3.048–10.550) and complicated silicosis in CT images (hazard ratio, 2.373; 95% CI, 1.379–4.082) were the main risk factors associated with progression. Forced vital capacity decreased after 1-year (241.5 vs. 55.2 mL) and 2-year (328.1 vs. 68.8 mL) follow-up in the two groups (AS vs. non-AS). History of anti-tuberculosis medication, chest oppression and pain, ground-glass opacity, pleural abnormalities, and restrictive pulmonary dysfunction were more frequently found on HRCT images in the AS group than non-AS group. Lung functions (DLCO, %) were lower in the current/former smokers than the non-smokers (P < 0.05) in AS patients.ConclusionPrevention and protection rules are needed to be enforced in the occupation involving AS processing; smoking may be associated with declined lung function in AS patients.

Factors associated with aortic valve stenosis in Japanese patients with end-stage kidney disease

BackgroundAortic valve stenosis (AS) has a high prevalence and poor prognosis in patients who receive maintenance dialysis. However, few large-scale observational studies in Japan have investigated patients with AS who underwent dialysis. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and factors associated with AS in Japanese patients who underwent dialysis.MethodsIn this cross-sectional analysis, we enrolled patients who underwent dialysis and transthoracic echocardiography between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018. Patients with a maximum aortic jet velocity (Vmax) ≥ 2.0 m/s, pressure gradient (PG) between the left ventricle and ascending aorta (mean PG) ≥ 20 mmHg, or aortic valve area (AVA) ≤ 1.0 cm2 were categorized into the AS group (G1). Patients with Vmax ≥ 3.0 m/s, mean PG ≥ 20 mmHg, or AVA ≤ 1.0 cm2 were categorized into the moderate and severe AS groups (G2). We performed multivariate logistic regression analysis and compared G1 and G2 with the non-AS group to determine the risk factors for AS. We also investigated the risk factors for aortic valve calcification, which is a pre-stage for AS.ResultsOf the 2,786 patients investigated, 555 (20.0%) and 193 (6.9%) were categorized into G1 and G2, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age, long-term dialysis, and elevated serum phosphorus levels were associated with AS in both the groups (p < 0.05). These factors were converted into ordinal categories, and a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. Patients with serum phosphorus levels measuring 5.0–5.9 mg/dL and > 6.0 mg/dL showed a higher risk of AS than those with serum phosphorus levels measuring < 4.0 mg/dL (odds ratio 2.24, p = 0.01 and odds ratio 2.66, p = 0.005, respectively). Aortic valve calcification was associated with age, long-term dialysis, diabetes mellitus, administration of vitamin D receptor activators, elevated serum calcium levels, and anemia (p < 0.05 for all).ConclusionsPatients on dialysis showed a high prevalence of AS, which was associated with age, long-term dialysis, and elevated serum phosphorus levels.Trial registrationUMIN000026756, registered on March 29, 2017.

Apical Sparing Strain Imaging In Patients With Hypertensive Emergency: A Study Of Patients Characteristics And Prognostic Value

<h3>Objective</h3> What are the clinical characteristics and prognostic values of patients with apical sparing strains compared to those with a normal strain pattern in hypertensive emergency? <h3>Background</h3> Differences in strain values among segments on the standard bull's eye model can give clues to different disease patterns. A pattern of apical sparing (AS) has been associated with cardiac amyloidosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypertension, and aortic stenosis. Changes in longitudinal strain predict subsequent development of heart failure or reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction in patients undergoing cardiotoxic chemotherapy. <h3>Methods</h3> We conducted a historical cohort study of all patients with an admission diagnosis of hypertensive emergency who had an echocardiogram done with evaluation of the strain pattern. Patients with AS were compared to those without AS on the following characteristics: demographics (age, race, sex), comorbidities as measured by the Charlson Weighted Index of Comorbidity (CWIC), ejection fraction and laboratory values including creatinine and hemoglobin levels on admission, pro-BNP (if available), discharge disposition and readmission within 30 days. Patients were followed in time (via medical records) from the initial admission to collect any other ejection fraction data on echocardiogram that were in the medical records. <h3>Results</h3> There were 946 unique patients admitted with a diagnosis of hypertensive urgency or emergency. A total of 120 patients had an evaluation of the strain pattern on the echocardiogram. Approximately one-third [n=35] of patients admitted to the hospital with hypertensive emergency had apical sparing strain versus two-third [n=85] has non-apical sparing (figure 1). Forty percent and sixty percent of AS patients were males and females respectively, whereas, 55% and 45% of non-AS patients were males and females respectively. The mean age at admission was 58.2 ± 14.7 in AS and 60.6 ± 14.3 in non-apical sparing patients. A 97.1% of AS and 85.9% of non-AS patients were black p = 0.071. The mean baseline ejection fraction (EF) was 48.89% ± 12.55 and follow-up EF was 50.83% ± 12.63 in the apical sparing group p=0.58. On the other hand, the mean baseline EF was 53.47% ± 13.92, and follow-up EF% was 54.72% ± 14.83 in the non-apical sparing group p=0.39. The readmission rate within 30 days from discharge was 17.1% in AS versus 21.2% non-AS group. <h3>Conclusion</h3> The data showed a higher prevalence of AS strains in black patients and female patients. Patients with AS were younger than those without AS. The baseline and follow-up ejection fraction were similar in both study groups. Almost one-third of patients admitted to the hospital with hypertensive emergency/urgency have an apical sparing pattern. To summarize, the apical sparing pattern is not exclusive to cardiac amyloidosis and it is more commonly seen in hypertensive heart disease.

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis have high risk of irritable bowel syndrome: a long-term nationwide population-based cohort study

ABSTRACT Objective Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease, might carry a high risk of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) due to abnormal gut microbiota or inflammatory reaction. Methods We conducted a 14-year retrospective cohort study based on Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). A total of 4007 patients with newly diagnosed AS (outpatient visits≧3 times, or hospitalization≧1 time) and 988,084 non-AS comparisons were enrolled during 2000–2012. To ensure baseline comparability, the propensity score was matched by age, gender, comorbidities, and other possible confounders. The outcome was the incidence of IBS, followed up to the end of 2013. Cox proportional hazard model calculated adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) and the cumulative incidence of both groups was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Result After propensity score matching, baseline demographic characteristics were comparable between AS patients and the comparison group. The crude HR for IBS in the AS group was significantly higher 2.41 (95%C.I. = 1.84–3.16) than comparison group. After adjusting for possible confounders, adjusted HR was 2.50 (95%C.I. = 1.91–3.29). The cumulative incidence of IBS in AS was significantly higher than non-AS comparisons during the 14-year follow-up (P < 0.001). Conclusion This nationwide population-based cohort study showed that patients with AS have higher risks of IBS than those of the non-AS comparison group.

Risk stratification of anastomotic stricture using early postoperative endoscopic and computed tomography findings in patients undergoing esophagectomy with cervical esophagogastric anastomosis for esophageal cancer.

Anastomotic stricture (AS) is one of the major complications after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. We have previously reported that severe mucosal degeneration (MD) of the anastomotic site was associated with the incidence of AS. Meanwhile, there are few reports to correlate anastomotic internal circumference (AIC) with computed tomography (CT) with the incidence of AS. Therefore, this study was conducted to clarify the correlation of early postoperative endoscopic and CT findings with the incidence of AS. We assessed 205 patients who underwent esophagectomy. We then divided them into the non-AS group (n = 164) and the AS group (n = 41) and compared their background data and intraoperative and postoperative outcomes. We also evaluated the risk factors for AS using logistic regression model. Multivariate analysis revealed small AIC (P = 0.003; OR = 4.400; 95% CI = 1.650-11.700) and severe MD (P < 0.001; OR = 7.200; 95% CI = 2.650-19.600) as the independent risk factors for AS development. We also stratified the patients into the following four groups according to the incidence of AS: low-risk (normal AIC and intact or mild MD, 6.2%), intermediate-risk (small AIC and intact or mild MD, 29.4%), high-risk (normal AIC and severe MD, 42.9%), and very high-risk (small AIC and severe MD, 61.1%). Early postoperative endoscopic and CT findings were useful in predicting the development of AS after esophagectomy.

Risk Factors and Distribution Characteristics of Intracranial and Intracranial Artery Stenosis in Young Sufferers with Ischemic Stroke.

In order to explore the risk factors of intracranial and intracranial arterial stenosis, the distribution of young ischemic stroke sufferers with intracranial and intracranial arterial stenosis and the related are analyzed. In this study, a total of 213 young sufferers with ischemic stroke (IS) admitted to our hospital from February 2019 to September 2021 are selected. According to the CT diagnosis of intracranial artery stenosis (AS), 213 patients are divided into two groups, with 86 in the AS Group and 127 in the non-AS Group. To analyze the distribution of intracranial and intracranial AS in young patients with ischemic stroke, 86 patients with AS are examined by carotid B-mode ultrasound. Furthermore, a univariate analysis is performed on the relevant indicators of the sufferers in the cancer (CA) set and the two sets without CA, and then, the indicators with statistically extensive disparity were selected for multivariate logistic regression analysis of the risk factors for CA symptoms. The results show 50% of the sufferers with moderate or severe ischemic CA in young adults and 63.95% of the sufferers with intracranial artery stenosis. It is clearly evident that the main risk factors affecting the occurrence of intracranial and intracranial arteries in young IS are hypertension and long-term smoking, long-term drinking, and hyperlipidemia.

Arterial-Arteriolar Sclerosis Is Independently Associated With Poor Renal Outcome in IgA Nephropathy Patients.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological features and prognosis of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) with arterial-arteriolar sclerosis (AS).Methods: Patients with biopsy-proven IgAN from the West China Hospital of Sichuan University were retrospectively enrolled. Clinicopathological features were collected. Patients were categorized based on the presence and the severity of the AS. All the patients were regularly followed-up until a composite end point. The correlation between AS and prognosis of IgAN was assessed.Results: A total of 1,424 patients were recruited and followed for 60.0 ± 28.7 months. Patients with AS tended to have older age, higher blood pressure, heavier proteinuria, higher serum creatinine, uric acid, and total triglyceride (TG). Meanwhile, they were more likely to have a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), hemoglobin, and albumin. At the end of follow-up, 126 patients in the AS group and 47 patients in the non-AS group had reached the composite end point (p < 0.001). AS was associated with the renal outcome (log-rank p < 0.001) and was an independent risk factor for the progression of IgAN (p = 0.049). The severity of AS was associated with renal outcomes (log-rank p < 0.001) and there was a trend that it might serve as an independent risk marker for progression of IgAN. In the subgroup analysis, patients presenting with AS and lower eGFR, albumin, and hemoglobin or higher proteinuria, uric acid, and TG had a significant trend for a shorter time to reach the end point (log-rank p < 0.001).Conclusion: AS was commonly seen in patients with IgAN and was independently associated with the poor prognosis.