The American journal of medicine
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Sepsis is an increasing cause of decompensation in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced or preserved ejection fraction. Sepsis and decompensated heart failure results in a mixed septic-cardiogenic shock that poses several therapeutic dilemmas: Rapid fluid resuscitation is the cornerstone of sepsis management, while loop diuretics are the main stay of decompensated heart failure treatment. ⋯ When to resume loop diuretic therapy in patients with sepsis and decompensated heart failure is unclear. In the absence of relevant guidelines, we review vasopressor therapy, the timing and volume of fluid resuscitation, and the need for inotropic therapy in patients who, with sepsis and decompensated heart failure, present with a mixed septic-cardiogenic shock.
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Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia is common and associated with fatality rates approximating 25%. We provide a brief overview of S. aureus bacteremia from a clinical and microbiological lens and review the relevant evidence and literature gaps in its management. Using a case-based approach, evidence and clinical judgement are meshed to highlight and justify the 5 core interventions that ought to be performed for all cases of S. aureus bacteremia: 1) appropriate anti-staphylococcal therapy, 2) screening echocardiography, 3) assessment for metastatic phenomena and source control, 4) decision on duration of antimicrobial therapy, and 5) Infectious Diseases consultation.
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Climate change has resulted in an increase in ambient temperatures during the summer months as well as an increase in risk of associated air pollution and of potentially disastrous bushfires throughout much of the world. The increasingly frequent combination of elevated summer temperatures and bushfires may be associated with acute increases in risks of cardiovascular events, but this relationship remains unstudied. We evaluated the individual and cumulative impacts of daily fluctuations in temperature, fine particulate matter of less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) pollution and presence of bushfires on incidence of acute coronary syndromes and Takotsubo syndrome. ⋯ The combination of high temperatures, presence of bushfires and associated elevation of atmospheric PM2.5 concentrations represents a substantially increased risk for precipitation of acute coronary syndromes; this risk should be factored into health care planning including public education and acute hospital preparedness.
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Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic, progressive inflammatory disease of the skin with many systemic implications. Hidradenitis suppurativa is frequently underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, particularly because of heterogeneity in presentation and low disease recognition. ⋯ Disease features described here can facilitate earlier identification of hidradenitis suppurativa, differentiation from common mimickers, and timely referrals for multidisciplinary management when needed. Engagement of the medical community will also support comprehensive care strategies necessary in hidradenitis suppurativa.
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Lipoprotein apheresis acutely increases coronary microvascular blood flow. However, measurement techniques are time-consuming, costly, and invasive. The ocular vasculature may be an appropriate surrogate and an easily accessible window to investigate the microcirculation. Recent advances in ocular imaging techniques enable quick, noninvasive quantification of ocular microcirculation blood flow. The insights from these techniques represent a significant opportunity to study the short-term changes in optic disk blood flow after lipoprotein apheresis for inherited hypercholesterolemia. ⋯ A single lipoprotein apheresis session resulted in a statistically significant short-term increase in optic disk blood flow. These findings together with previous coronary microcirculation data suggest a similar ocular and coronary blood flow response to lipoprotein apheresis. Ocular microcirculation may represent a versatile biomarker for evaluating systemic microcirculatory health, including coronary microcirculation. Hence, it is plausible that plasma lipoprotein levels may influence optic disk blood flow.