Activity

05). Similarly, the rate of RNFLT change was not predicted by concurrent AveTDLin change after adjusting for its own previous rate. However, the rate of AveTDLin change in the previous time interval did significantly improve prediction of the current rate for RNFLT, with P = 0.005, suggesting a time lag of around six months between changes in AveTDLin and RNFLT.

Although RNFL thinning may be detectable sooner, true functional change appears to predict and precede thinning of the RNFL in glaucoma.

Although RNFL thinning may be detectable sooner, true functional change appears to predict and precede thinning of the RNFL in glaucoma.

Prior studies have described a variety of mechanisms for atrial fibrillation (AF) originating in the right atrium (RA). ATM inhibitor In this study, we report a series of patients in whom an extensive right atrial free wall low-voltage zone (LVZ) served as the AF substrate.

Five patients with a clinical syndrome of paroxysmal AF and atrial tachycardia (AT) underwent electrophysiologic evaluation. Five patients (3 M; age 52 ± 7 years) had symptomatic paroxysmal AF for (28 ± 17 months) not responsive to medical therapy. At the initial EP study, AT was inducible in four patients and was spontaneous in one patient. In all patients, tachycardia instability precluded detailed AT mapping. Sinus or pace maps indicated an extensive LVZ in the lateral RA trabeculated free wall which consisted of regions of low amplitude complex signals interspersed between electrically silent areas. Radiofrequency ablation aimed at rendering the LVZ electrical inert was successful in eliminating AF in four of five patients. At a follow-up of 28 ± 15 months, one patient had an isolated recurrence of AF. However, two patients required repeat ablation for recurrent AT.

An extensive LVZ in the trabeculated RA free wall constitutes an unusual substrate for AF. These patients also demonstrate unstable ATs originating from the same zone. Radiofrequency ablation to render the low-voltage zone electrically inert is an effective strategy to manage AF and AT.

An extensive LVZ in the trabeculated RA free wall constitutes an unusual substrate for AF. These patients also demonstrate unstable ATs originating from the same zone. Radiofrequency ablation to render the low-voltage zone electrically inert is an effective strategy to manage AF and AT.Immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) is a potentially fatal blood disorder resulting from acquired deficiency of plasma ADAMTS13 activity. Despite recent advances in early diagnosis and novel therapeutics, the mortality rate of acute iTTP remains as high as 10% to 20%. Moreover, a reliable clinical and laboratory parameter that predicts disease severity and outcomes is lacking. We show in the present study that plasma levels of syndecan-1 (Sdc-1) and soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) on admission were dramatically increased in patients with acute iTTP and remained substantially elevated in a subset of patients compared with healthy controls. The elevated admission plasma levels of Sdc-1 and sTM were associated with abnormal Glasgow coma scale scores, low estimated glomerular filtration rates, the need for intensive care, and in-hospital mortality rates. Moreover, a further simultaneous increase in plasma Sdc-1 and sTM levels at the time of clinical response/remission (eg, when normalization of platelet counts and substantial reduction of serum lactate dehydrogenase activity were achieved) was highly predictive of iTTP recurrence. These results demonstrate that endothelial injury, resulting from disseminated microvascular thromboses, is severe and persistent in patients with acute iTTP. Plasma levels of Sdc-1 and sTM on admission and in remission are predictive of in-hospital mortality and recurrence of acute iTTP, respectively. Thus, an incorporation of such novel plasma biomarkers into the risk assessment in acute iTTP may help implement a more vigorous and intensive therapeutic strategy for these patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate surrogate markers commonly used in the literature for diabetic foot osteomyelitis remission after initial treatment for diabetic foot infections.

Thirty-five patients with diabetic foot infections were prospectively enrolled and followed for 12 months. Osteomyelitis was determined from bone culture and histology initially and for recurrence. Chi square and Fischer’s exact test were used for dichotomous variables and the student’s t-test and Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables with an alpha of 0.05.

Twenty-four patients were diagnosed with osteomyelitis and eleven patients with soft-tissue infections. 16.7% (n=) of patients with osteomyelitis had a re-infection based on bone biopsy. The success of osteomyelitis treatment varied based on the surrogate marker used to define remission osteomyelitis infection (16.7%), failed wound healing (8.3%), re-ulceration (20.8%), re-admission (16.7%), amputation (12.5%). There was no difference in outcomes among patients wfection subjects. Commonly reported surrogate markers were not shown to be specific to identify patients that failed osteomyelitis treatment when compared with patients that had soft tissue infections. Given this, these surrogate markers are not reliable for use in practice to identify osteomyelitis treatment failure.ObjectiveTo compare pathogens involved in skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) and pedal osteomyelitis (OM) in patients with and without diabetes with puncture wounds to the foot. MethodsWe evaluated 113 consecutive patients between June 2011 and March 2019 with foot infection (SSTI and OM) from a puncture injury sustained to the foot. Eighty-three patients had diabetes (DM) and 30 did not (NDM). We evaluated the bacterial pathogens in patients with skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) and pedal osteomyelitis (OM). ResultsPolymicrobial infection were more common in patients with diabetes mellitus (83.1% vs 53.3%, p=.001). The most common pathogen for SSTI and OM in DM was s. aureus (SSTI 50.7%, OM 32.3%), whereas in NDM patients it was Pseudomonas (25%) for SSTI. Anaerobes (9.4%) and fungal (3.1%) infection were uncommon. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was only identified in 5.8% of people with diabetes. ConclusionsThe most common bacterial pathogen in both SSTIs and pedal OM was staphylococcus aureus in patients with DM.