Journal of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Research
Volume:16 Issue: 1, Mar 2024

Re-expansion pulmonary edema (RPE) is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication that can occur after rapid lung expansion following the management of lung collapse. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the risk factors for RPE following chest tube drainage in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. We conducted a comprehensive systematic literature search in electronic databases of PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest to identify studies that explore the risk factors for RPE following chest tube drainage in spontaneous pneumothorax. Pooled odds ratios (OR) or weighted mean differences (WMD) were calculated to evaluate the risk factors. Statistical analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.3 software. Five studies involving 1.093 spontaneous pneumothorax patients were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled analysis showed that the following risk factors were significantly associated with increased risk of RPE following chest tube drainage: the presence smoking history (OR=1.94, 95% CI: 1.22-3.10, P=0.005, I2=0%), longer duration of symptoms (WMD=3.76, 95% CI: 2.07-5.45, P<0.0001, I2=30%) , and larger size of pneumothorax (WMD=16.76, 95% CI: 8.88-24.64, P<0.0001, I2=78%). Age, sex, and location of pneumothorax had no significant association. In patients with spontaneous pneumothorax, the presence of smoking history, longer duration of symptoms, and larger size of pneumothorax increase the risk of development of RPE following chest tube drainage.

Herbal medicines are commonly used by many people with diabetes in addition to standard treatment. Plants contain numerous known and unknown compounds that may exacerbate or ameliorate diabetes complications. Therefore, it is crucial to be aware of the side effects of these herbs before prescribing them. This study aimed to investigate the effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of Securigera securidaca (HESS) seeds alone and in combination with glibenclamide on the angiogenic/anti-angiogenic balance in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

Groups involved in this animal study included diabetic and healthy controls, three doses of HESS, glibenclamide, and combination therapy. Serum samples were collected and analyzed for a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), fetal liver kinase 1 (FLK-1), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFLT-1), and transforming growth factor -beta (TGF-β).

Induction of diabetes increased VEGF, FGF21, and TGF-β serum levels and decreased circulating FLK-1 and sFLT-1 factors. Herbal extract, except TGF-β, had little effect on the above blood levels even at the highest doses. Glibenclamide was more effective than the highest dose of HESS in improving the vascular complications of diabetes. Combination therapy with the highest dose of HESS partly enhanced the glibenclamide effects.

Compared with glibenclamide as a standard chemical drug, HESS had no significant effects on the blood levels of the pro/anti-angiogenesis factor in diabetic rats. Glibenclamide attenuated the levels of the biomarkers and its effects were somewhat enhanced in combination with the highest dose of HESS.

 The present study sought to compare the diagnostic accuracy and radiation dose of ECG-gated, ultra-fast, low-dose, high-pitch, spiral (FLASH) mode versus conventional, ECG-gated, sequential coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).

 The study included 120 patients who underwent both conventional scanning and FLASH mode scanning and were subdivided into derivation and validation cohorts. In the conventional sequential (step-and-shoot) protocol, prospective ECG-gated, non-contrast acquisition was performed at 70% of R-R interval. The spiral (FLASH) mode utilized a high-pitch and high-speed gantry rotation scanning mode where acquisition of the entire heart was done within a single cardiac cycle with prospective ECG-gating at 70% of R-R interval.

 Correlation between CAC scores derived from conventional (cCAC) and FLASH mode (fCAC) in derivation cohort was excellent (r=0.99; P<0.001). A linear regression model was used to develop a formula for deriving the estimated CAC score (eCAC) from fCAC (eCAC=0.978 x fCAC). In validation cohort, eCAC showed excellent agreement with cCAC (ICC=0.9983; 95%CI: 0.9972 - 0.9990). Excellent agreement for risk classification (weighted kappa=0.93898; 95%CI: 0.86833 - 1.0000) was observed with 95% (57/60) scores falling within the same risk category. Effective dose was significantly lower in FLASH mode (conventional, 0.58±0.21 mSv vs. FLASH, 0.34±0.12 mSv; P<0.0001).

 CAC scoring using FLASH mode is feasible with high accuracy and shows excellent agreement with conventional CAC scores at significantly reduced radiation doses.

Introduction: 

Cardioversion for atrial fibrillation (AF) is routinely implemented in daily practice; however, it can be associated with the development of recurrent AF. In this study we aimed to evaluate the predictors of AF recurrence after electrical cardioversion, and to compare the outcomes of patients with or without AF recurrence during follow-up.

Methods:

 Patients with persistent AF were enrolled from March 2015 to September 2018. Patients with recurrent AF within 6 months after the index cardioversion were considered as AF recurrence (AFR) group, and those with normal sinus rhythm were defined as normal sinus rhythm (NSR) group. Thereafter, all patients were followed up for the incidence of adverse events, including death, requiring dialysis, coronary artery intervention/surgeries, cerebrovascular events, heart failure, and recurrent AF beyond 6 months.

Results: 

Of 129 patients, 11 patients had failed cardioversion and 7 patients lost to follow-up. So, 34 and 77 patients were categorized as the NSR and the AFR groups. During a median follow-up time of 54 (46-75) months, there was a trend for a higher incidence of major adverse events in the AFR group compared to the NSR group (P=0.063). Lower body mass index (odds ratio [OR] 0.885, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.794-0.986, P=0.027) and coarse AF before the index cardioversion (OR 3.846, 95% CI 1.189-12.443, P=0.025) were the independent predictors of recurrent AF.

Conclusion: 

In patients with persistent AF undergoing cardioversion, the presence of coarse AF and the lower values of body mass index were found to be associated with the AF recurrence.

 The issues associated with the limitation of appropriate autologous vessels for vascular reconstruction via bypass surgery highlight the need for new alternative strategies based on tissue engineering. The present study aimed to prepare decellularized scaffolds from ovine carotid using chemical decellularization method.

 Ovine carotid were decellularized with Triton X-100 and tri-n-butyl phosphate (TnBP) at 37 °C. Histological analysis, biochemical tests, biomechanical assay and biocompatibility assay were used to investigate the efficacy of decellularization.

 Decellularization method could successfully decellularize ovine carotid without leaving any cell remnants. Scaffolds showed minimal destruction of the three-dimensional structure and extracellular matrix, as well as adequate mechanical resistance and biocompatibility for cell growth and proliferation.

 Prepared acellular scaffold exhibited the necessary characteristics for clinical applications.

 In Vietnam, the prevalence of hypertension is increasing rapidly. Patients need to be conscious of the disease for timely prevention and treatment. The Hypertension Knowledge Level Scale (HK-LS) is commonly used to assess knowledge about hypertension.

 Data collection was took place in a hospital in Binh Thuan province, Vietnam in February 2020 with a total of 184 paticipants. Translation and adaptation of the HK-LS, validate the questionnaire through in-person interviews with outpatients diagnosed with hypertension. The translation process followed WHO guidelines. The appraisal process evaluates through reliability (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient) and validity (meaningful relationship between the response results of the scale and the patient’s characteristics).

 The Vietnamese version of the HK-LS was translated and proven to be reliable (Cronbach’s alpha=0.72) and valid (statistically significant difference between age groups (P=0.021) and educational background (P=0.007).

 The HK-LS was translated from English into Vietnamese; the questions are clear, intelligible, and suitable for surveying patients in Vietnam.

 Covid-19 patients can have both regional and global ventricular dysfunction. We aim to study the spectrum of myocardial involvement in Covid-19 patients on echocardiography.

 This is a single center, observational study where wall motion abnormality patterns were studied in Covid-19 patients along with global and regional longitudinal strain analysis (GLS).

 30 Covid-19 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 35.3±6.4 years. Echocardiography revealed characteristic wall motion abnormality involving hypokinesia of anterolateral and apical segments, which produced an operculum like appearance in all patients. Strain derived ejection fraction(EF) was lower in 4 chamber as compared to 2 chamber indicating regional myocardial dysfunction. Reduced GLS values in presence of normal EF indicates global systolic function impairment. Endocardial effacement was also noted in these segments along with stretching of interventricular septum.

 Specific myocardial involvement pattern can be detected on echocardiography, thus helping in diagnosis of Covid myocarditis.

 Since there is a bi‐directional interaction between hypertension and depression, we aimed to evaluate the effects of citalopram administration in the management of hypertension.

 A randomized clinical trial was conducted on 72 patients with concomitant depression and hypertension. The intervention group (n=41) received citalopram 20 mg daily plus anti-hypertensive standard treatment, while the control group (n=31) received only the standard treatment. The study’s primary endpoint was in-office blood pressure (BP) measurement at baseline and home BP monitoring in the first and second months after entering the study.

 There were no significant differences in baseline systolic BP (163.3±19.6 vs.164.2±20.3 mm Hg; P=0.910) and diastolic BP (94.5±13.8 vs. 88.2±14.4; P=0.071). After one month, diastolic BP (82.7±11.7 vs. 77.09±12.2; P=0.023) was significantly higher in the control group compared to the intervention group. Two months after the intervention, systolic BP (133.8±16.5 vs. 124.5±12.4; P=0.009) and diastolic BP (80.7±10.3 vs. 73.7±9.7; P=0.002) were significantly decreased in the intervention group compared to the control group.

 This study supported the beneficial effects of citalopram in lowering BP in patients with concomitant depression and hypertension.

Renal artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) with symptoms of flank pain and hematuria. Endovascular coil embolization has been proposed as a safe management option. We report Seven male patients, aged 36 to 65 years, with post-PCNL pseudoaneurysms presenting as gross hematuria. They all underwent CT angiography prior to endovascular intervention. The access was from common femoral artery in 6 cases and from left brachial artery in one case. Selective angiography of affected renal artery and branches were performed by suitable catheter. Coil embolization was performed by MicroNester and MReye coils (Cook, Inc.). Size of coils was selected based on angiography results. Completion angiography revealed embolized pseudoaneurysm in all cases. Gross and microscopic hematuria disappeared in all patients in the following days. Endovascular angioembolization with coil is an effective technique for managing post-PCNL pseudoaneurysms in renal artery and its branches.  

Right ventricular failure is a mechanism of hemodynamic collapse in acute aortic dissection. Mostly RV failure happens as a result of coronary malperfusion secondary to compression of right coronary artery ostium by the false lumen of type A aortic dissection or the dissection flap involving this coronary artery. Another mechanism is compression of pulmonary artery and an acute rise of pulmonary pressure below the level of obstruction, which is rarely reported. Herein, we presented an 82-year-old man who was admitted with type A aortic dissection in whom echocardiographic examination revealed right pulmonary artery compression resulting in acute right ventricular failure.