[NON-INVASIVE CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY BY MULTISLICE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY]
PRÉDA István, KERECSEN Gábor, MAUROVICH-HORVAT Pál
SEPTEMBER 19, 2007
Lege Artis Medicinae - 2007;17(08-09)
PRÉDA István, KERECSEN Gábor, MAUROVICH-HORVAT Pál
SEPTEMBER 19, 2007
Lege Artis Medicinae - 2007;17(08-09)
[This review summarizes the diagnostic spectrum, ways of application and methodological difficulties of multislice computed tomographic (MSCT) coronary angiography. The non-invasive assessment of cardiac and coronary anatomy is now possible with computed tomographic coronary angiography using the modern 16 to 64-slice technology. This technique finds its main use today in the screening of patients with moderate probability of having coronary artery disease (atypical chest pain). Its negative predictive value varies between 97% and 99%, thus, a negative result of this non-invasive outpatient procedure can reduce the possibility of coronary artery disease to the minimum. Other important diagnostic applications include the follow-up of patients with coronary artery bypass, accurate diagnosis of coronary artery anomalies, and the simultaneous examination of the heart and great vessels. The future development of the technique is directed to coronary plaque characterization, particularly the detection of vulnerable plaques. The radiation exposure is relatively low (7-13 mSv), comparable with that of invasive coronary angiography.]
Lege Artis Medicinae
[Different antihypertensive agents, while having the same blood pressure lowering effect, will have significantly and clinically important different impact on the serum levels of glucose, lipids, insulin, potassium, creatinine, as well as on albumin excretion, heart rate, body weight, central pressure, various hypertensive target organ damages, and, in particular, 24-hour blood pressure dinamics. There is agreement in that the main benefits of first-line antihypertensive agents are related to the lowering of blood pressure itself. Some other drugs, however, have shown preventive and protective cardiovascular properties in certain patient groups, independent of their blood pressure lowering effect as measured traditionally.]
Lege Artis Medicinae
[Detemir is the newest base insulin analogue. In phase III trials and the PREDICTIVE study, the use of insulin detemir in various treatment regimens (basal-bolus or in combination with an oral antidiabetic) did not lead to weight gain in either types of diabetes, in contrast to what is usually observed with insulin therapy. Similar results were obtained when neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin or glargine were replaced by detemir, or insulin-naive patients received detemir as a new therapeutic regime. The mechanism of the beneficial effect on body weight is not clear yet. It may be related to the reduction in the number of hypoglycaemic episodes. It may also be associated with a stronger action of detemir on hepatocytes compared to peripheral tissues due to its acylation, which results in an effective suppression of hepatic glucose output without promoting lipogenesis in the adipocytes. Detemir reaches the insulin receptors of the hypothalamus faster than regular insulin, therefore, satiety develops in a shorter time. These hypotheses still require further studies.]
Lege Artis Medicinae
[The term inflammatory bowel disease includes two similar, but distinct intestinal diseases so far of unknown ethiology - ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. They used to be considered diseases of young adults, but in recent decades they have become more common among children, with characteristics different from those in adults. In the past they were considered severe, incurable diseases, but today, owing to modern nutrition, medical and surgical treatment, both diseases have became well manageable, even though complete recovery can not yet be expected.]
Lege Artis Medicinae
Hungarian Radiology
[Interventional radiology is a relatively new and very rapidly developing cost-effective branch of radiology. Its aim to help or to replace surgical procedures and interventions in many cases are life saving, which are performed by imaging modality control (most commonly angiography or fluoroscopy). During interventional radiological procedures the exposure of staff and patients is usually higher, than in conventional radiography or fluoroscopy. Deterministic effects may also occur. The dosimetry can be carried out by film dosimetry, thermoluminescent dosimetry, DAP meters, semiconductor detectors and personal electronic dosimeter. The basis of reduction of radiation exposure is the radiation protection training. An important rule is that reduction of patient exposure is connected with reduction of staff exposure. With the use of appropriate tools and training the most injuries are avoidable.]
Lege Artis Medicinae
[Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most frequently used pharmaceuticals. Nevertheless, a number of studies emphasized that NSAIDs were damaging not only the gastrointestinal (GI), but also the cardiovascular (CV) system, could increase the blood pressure, the frequency of coronary events (angina, myocardial infarction) and stroke incidence, as well as they might deteriorate renal functions. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) did not find evidence that administering NSAIDs could increase the risk of developing COVID-19 or worsened the condition of COVID-19 patients. However, unwanted effects of specific drugs differ substantially in their occurrence and seriousness as well. It seemed to be for a long time that the NSAIDs provoked higher GI-risk was closely related to the COX1/COX2 selectivity, like the cardiovascular (CV) risk to the COX2/COX1 selectivity, however, the recent data did not prove it clearly. Based on the available literature while pondering the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular adverse events, among all NSAIDs the aceclofenac profile seemed to be the most favourable.]
Clinical Neuroscience
Delirium is a syndrome frequently encountered in intensive care and associated with a poor prognosis. Intensive care delirium is mostly based on general and palliative intensive care data in the literature. In this study, we aimed to investigate the incidence of delirium in coronary intensive care unit (CICU), related factors, its relationship with inhospital and follow up prognosis, incidence of age-related delirium and its effect on outcomes. This study was conducted with patients hospitalized in CICU of a tertiary university hospital between 01 August 2017 and 01 August 2018. Files of all patients were examined in details, and demographic, clinic and laboratory parameters were recorded. Patients confirmed with psychiatry consultation were included in the groups of patients who developed delirium. Patients were divided into groups with and without delirium developed, and baseline features, inhospital and follow up prognoses were investigated. In addition, patients were divided into four groups as <65 years old, 65-75 yo, 75-84 yo and> 85 yo, and the incidence of delirium, related factors and prognoses were compared among these groups. A total of 1108 patients (mean age: 64.4 ± 13.9 years; 66% men) who were followed in the intensive care unit with variable indications were included in the study. Of all patients 11.1% developed delirium in the CICU. Patients who developed delirium were older, comorbidities were more frequent, and these patients showed increased inflammation findings, and significant increase in inhospital mortality compared to those who did not develop delirium (p<0.05). At median 9-month follow up period, rehospitalization, reinfarction, cognitive dysfunction, initiation of psychiatric therapy and mortality were significantly higher in the delirium group (p<0.05). When patients who developed delirium were divided into four groups by age and analyzed, incidence of delirium and mortality rate in delirium group were significantly increased by age (p<0.05). Development of delirium in coronary intensive care unit is associated with increased inhospital and follow up morbidity and mortality. Delirium is more commonly seen in geriatric patients and those with comorbidity, and is associated with a poorer prognosis. High-risk patients should be more carefully monitored for the risk of delirium.
Clinical Neuroscience
The cause of intracerebral, subarachnoid and subdural haemorrhage is different, and the simultaneous appearance in the same case is extremely rare. We describe the case of a patient with a ruptured aneurysm on the distal segment of the middle cerebral artery, with a concomitant subdural and intracerebral haemorrhage, and a subsequent secondary brainstem (Duret) haemorrhage. The 59-year-old woman had hypertension and diabetes in her medical history. She experienced anomic aphasia and left-sided headache starting one day before admission. She had no trauma. A few minutes after admission she suddenly became comatose, her breathing became superficial. Non-contrast CT revealed left sided fronto-parietal subdural and subarachnoid and intracerebral haemorrhage, and bleeding was also observed in the right pontine region. The patient had leucocytosis and hyperglycemia but normal hemostasis. After the subdural haemorrhage had been evacuated, the patient was transferred to intensive care unit. Sepsis developed. Echocardiography did not detect endocarditis. Neurological status, vigilance gradually improved. The rehabilitation process was interrupted by epileptic status. Control CT and CT angiography proved an aneurysm in the peripheral part of the left middle cerebral artery, which was later clipped. Histological examination excluded mycotic etiology of the aneurysm and “normal aneurysm wall” was described. The brain stem haemorrhage – Duret bleeding – was presumably caused by a sudden increase in intracranial pressure due to the supratentorial space occupying process and consequential trans-tentorial herniation. This case is a rarity, as the patient not only survived, but lives an active life with some residual symptoms.
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Clinical Neuroscience
Alexithymia is associated with cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease3.
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Clinical Neuroscience
Cases of inborn errors of metabolism diagnosed in children with autism2.
Clinical Neuroscience
[The first Hungarian patient with Guillain-Barre syndrome after COVID-19]3.
Clinical Neuroscience
Retinal morphological changes during the two years of follow-up in Parkinson’s disease4.
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