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Gutovitz S, Lay WT. Methodological Concerns Assessing Tenecteplase's Safety. Ann Emerg Med 2024; 84:227-228. [PMID: 39032989 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2024.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Scott Gutovitz
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Grand Strand Regional Medical Center, Myrtle Beach, SC
| | - William T Lay
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Grand Strand Regional Medical Center, Myrtle Beach, SC
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Jehle DVK, Nguyen N, Garza MA, Kim DK, Paul KK, Bilby NJ, Bogache WK, Chevli KK. PSA Levels and Mortality in Prostate Cancer Patients. Clin Genitourin Cancer 2024; 22:102162. [PMID: 39094287 DOI: 10.1016/j.clgc.2024.102162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most common cancer among men around the world. Several smaller studies have explored the relationship between elevated PSA and mortality, but results have been conflicting. Additionally, studies have shown that Black men are more likely to be diagnosed with PC at late-stages and may have a twofold increase in mortality risk. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between PSA levels and mortality in patients with PC and differences between Black versus White patients. METHODS In this retrospective study, the TriNetX database, was used to extract de-identified EMRs of 198,083 patients. Patients were included if they were diagnosed with PC and had obtained a PSA level (measured in ng/mL) within 6 months prior to diagnosis. Cohorts were separated into 7 groups based on intervals of PSA, ranging from < 2 to ≥ 500 and compared to a control cohort with a PSA of 4 to 20 for differing 2-year mortality rates. A subgroup analysis was performed to compare mortality differences between Black and White patients. A posthoc analysis evaluated 5- and 10-year mortality amongst all patients with PC. RESULTS After propensity matching, mortality risk was significantly lower for patients with PSA < 2 (5.9% vs. 7.5%; RR 0.784; P < .001) when compared to the control cohort. Mortality was significantly higher for all other subsequent PSA intervals > 20, with the lowest risk ratios at PSA 20-100 (24.1% vs. 10.0%; RR 2.419; P < .001) and highest at PSA 200 to 500 (50.4% vs. 10.8%; RR 4.673; P < .001). The sub-group analysis showed that when compared to White patients, Black patients with PSA < 20 had similar mortalities, but had significantly lower 2-year mortality rates at PSA levels ≥ 20. The posthoc analysis of PSA levels and 5- and 10-year mortality of all patients with PC showed similar trends to the 2-year outcomes. CONCLUSION This study found that prostate cancer patients with significantly elevated PSA levels have a greater mortality, and Black patients have lower 2-year mortality rates than their White counterparts when matched for PSA levels greater than 20.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nam Nguyen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - Michael A Garza
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - Debora K Kim
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - Krishna K Paul
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - Nathaniel J Bilby
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - William K Bogache
- Department of Urology, Grand Strand Regional Medical Center, Myrtle Beach, SC
| | - K Kent Chevli
- Department of Urology, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
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Stanton K, Philippou H, Ariëns RA. Ischaemic Stroke, Thromboembolism and Clot Structure. Neuroscience 2024; 550:3-10. [PMID: 38453129 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Ischaemic stroke is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Blood clotting and thromboembolism play a central role in the pathogenesis of ischaemic stroke. An increasing number of recent studies indicate changes in blood clot structure and composition in patients with ischaemic stroke. In this review, we aim to summarise and discuss clot structure, function and composition in ischaemic stroke, including its relationships with clinical diagnosis and treatment options such as thrombolysis and thrombectomy. Studies are summarised in which clot structure and composition is analysed both in vitro from patients' plasma samples and ex vivo in thrombi obtained through interventional catheter-mediated thrombectomy. Mechanisms that drive clot composition and architecture such as neutrophil extracellular traps and clot contraction are also discussed. We find that, while in vitro clot structure in plasma samples from ischaemic stroke patients are consistently altered, showing denser clots that are more resistant to fibrinolysis, current data on the composition and architecture of ex vivo clots obtained by thrombectomy are more variable. With the potential of advances in technologies underpinning both the imaging and retrieving of clots, we expect that future studies in this area will generate new data that is of interest for the diagnosis, optimal treatment strategies and clinical management of patients with ischaemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Stanton
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Helen Philippou
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Robert As Ariëns
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
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Jensen CJ, Nielsen JK, Talbott MM, O'Connell D, Patel VS, Armstrong PA, Rafique Z, Tia LM, Paul KK, Jehle DV. Effects of Serum Potassium on Mortality in Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction. Cureus 2024; 16:e61126. [PMID: 38919213 PMCID: PMC11197046 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Disturbances in potassium levels can induce ventricular arrhythmias and heighten mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This study evaluates the influence of sK levels on seven-day mortality and incidence of ventricular arrhythmias in STEMI patients to further improve clinical guidelines and outcomes. METHODS This retrospective, propensity-matched study analyzed approximately 250,000 acute STEMI patients from 55 major academic medical centers/healthcare organizations (HCOs) in the US Collaborative Network of the TriNetX database. The sK levels recorded on the day of STEMI diagnosis were categorized into four cohorts: sK ≤ 3.4 (hypokalemia), 3.5 ≤ sK ≤ 4.5 (normal-control), 4.6 ≤ sK ≤ 5.0 (high-normal), and sK ≥ 5.1 (hyperkalemia). Patient cohorts were propensity-matched using linear and logistic regression for demographics. Outcomes of seven-day mortality, ventricular tachycardia (VT), and ventricular fibrillation (VF) were compared between these cohorts and the control group. RESULTS The analysis showed hypokalemia was linked to significantly higher seven-day mortality (7.2% vs. 4.3%; RR 1.69; p<0.001), and increased rates of VT and VF. Similarly, hyperkalemia was associated with elevated mortality (12.7% vs. 4.6%; RR 2.76; p<0.001), VT, and VF rates. High-normal sK levels showed increased mortality (7.4% vs. 4.7%; RR 1.58; p<0.001), but unchanged VT or VF rates compared to the normal sK group. CONCLUSION This comprehensive study highlights the correlation of sK levels with death in STEMI patients, revealing a nearly doubled risk of mortality with hypokalemia and almost triples with hyperkalemia. More notably, the mortality for STEMIs is higher for high-normal vs normal sK values. Additionally, hypokalemia and hyperkalemia were found to significantly elevate VT and VF risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colton J Jensen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Jonathan K Nielsen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Matthew M Talbott
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Danielle O'Connell
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Vivek S Patel
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Peyton A Armstrong
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Zubaid Rafique
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA
| | - Lillian M Tia
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Krishna K Paul
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Dietrich V Jehle
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
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Prasad S, Jones EM, Gebreyohanns M, Kwon Y, Olson DM, Anderson JA, Savitz SI, Cruz-Flores S, Warach SJ, Rhodes CE, Goldberg MP, Ifejika NL. Multicenter exploration of tenecteplase transition factors: A quantitative analysis. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2024; 33:107592. [PMID: 38266690 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2024.107592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tenecteplase (TNK) is gaining recognition as a novel therapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Despite TNK offering a longer half-life, time and cost saving benefits and comparable treatment and safety profiles to Alteplase (ALT), the adoption of TNK as a treatment for AIS presents challenges for hospital systems. OBJECTIVE Identify barriers and facilitators of TNK implementation at acute care hospitals in Texas. METHODS This prospective survey used open-ended questions and Likert statements generated from content experts and informed by qualitative research. Stroke clinicians and nurses working at 40 different hospitals in Texas were surveyed using a virtual platform. RESULTS The 40 hospitals had a median of 34 (IQR 24.5-49) emergency department beds and 42.5 (IQR 23.5-64.5) inpatient stroke beds with 506.5 (IQR 350-797.5) annual stroke admissions. Fifty percent of the hospitals were Comprehensive Stroke Centers, and 18 (45 %) were solely using ALT for treatment of eligible AIS patients. Primary facilitators to TNK transition were team buy-in and a willingness of stroke physicians, nurses, and pharmacists to adopt TNK. Leading barriers were lack of clinical evidence supporting TNK safety profile inadequate evidence supporting TNK use and a lack of American Heart Association guidelines support for TNK administration in all AIS cases. CONCLUSION Understanding common barriers and facilitators to TNK adoption can assist acute care hospitals deciding to implement TNK as a treatment for AIS. These findings will be used to design a TNK adoption Toolkit, utilizing implementation science techniques, to address identified obstacles and to leverage facilitators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidarrth Prasad
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, United States
| | - Erica M Jones
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, United States
| | | | - Yoon Kwon
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, United States
| | - DaiWai M Olson
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, United States
| | | | - Sean I Savitz
- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, United States
| | | | - Steven J Warach
- Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, United States
| | - Charlotte E Rhodes
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, United States
| | - Mark P Goldberg
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, United States
| | - Nneka L Ifejika
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, United States.
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Straub JJ, Paul KK, Bothwell LG, Deshazo SJ, Golovko G, Miller MS, Jehle DV. Risk of Suicide and Self-Harm Following Gender-Affirmation Surgery. Cureus 2024; 16:e57472. [PMID: 38699117 PMCID: PMC11063965 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.57472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction With the growing acceptance of transgender individuals, the number of gender affirmation surgeries has increased. Transgender individuals face elevated depression rates, leading to an increase in suicide ideation and attempts. This study evaluates the risk of suicide or self-harm associated with gender affirmation procedures. Methods This retrospective study utilized de-identified patient data from the TriNetX (TriNetX, LLC, Cambridge, MA) database, involving 56 United States healthcare organizations and over 90 million patients. The study involved four cohorts: cohort A, adults aged 18-60 who had gender-affirming surgery and an emergency visit (N = 1,501); cohort B, control group of adults with emergency visits but no gender-affirming surgery (N = 15,608,363); and cohort C, control group of adults with emergency visits, tubal ligation or vasectomy, but no gender-affirming surgery (N = 142,093). Propensity matching was applied to cohorts A and C. Data from February 4, 2003, to February 4, 2023, were analyzed to examine suicide attempts, death, self-harm, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within five years of the index event. A secondary analysis involving a control group with pharyngitis, referred to as cohort D, was conducted to validate the results from cohort C. Results Individuals who underwent gender-affirming surgery had a 12.12-fold higher suicide attempt risk than those who did not (3.47% vs. 0.29%, RR 95% CI 9.20-15.96, p < 0.0001). Compared to the tubal ligation/vasectomy controls, the risk was 5.03-fold higher before propensity matching and remained significant at 4.71-fold after matching (3.50% vs. 0.74%, RR 95% CI 2.46-9.024, p < 0.0001) for the gender affirmation patients with similar results with the pharyngitis controls. Conclusion Gender-affirming surgery is significantly associated with elevated suicide attempt risks, underlining the necessity for comprehensive post-procedure psychiatric support.
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Affiliation(s)
- John J Straub
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Krishna K Paul
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Lauren G Bothwell
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Sterling J Deshazo
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Georgiy Golovko
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Michael S Miller
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Services, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Dietrich V Jehle
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
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Marè A, Lorenzut S, Janes F, Gentile C, Marinig R, Tereshko Y, Gigli GL, Valente M, Merlino G. Comparison of pharmacokinetic properties of alteplase and tenecteplase. The future of thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2024; 20:25-36. [PMID: 38275111 DOI: 10.1080/17425255.2024.2311168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The drug most frequently used for thrombolysis in cases of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is alteplase. However, there is moderate-to-high-quality evidence that tenecteplase has similar or higher efficacy and safety. With improved pharmacokinetic properties over alteplase, tenecteplase could be a significant advantage in treating AIS. AREAS COVERED After conducting an extensive search on Scopus and PubMed, this manuscript reviews and compares the pharmacokinetic properties of alteplase and tenecteplase. Additionally, it provides information on pharmacodynamics, clinical efficacy, safety, tolerability, and drug-drug interactions. EXPERT OPINION The pharmacokinetic profile of alteplase and tenecteplase is derived from studies in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Thanks to its pharmacokinetic properties, tenecteplase is the drug closest to being the ideal fibrinolytic for AIS. Its longer half-life enables a single-bolus administration, which is particularly useful in emergencies. Tenecteplase has proven to have a good efficacy and safety profile in randomized clinical trials. Although we are awaiting the results of the ongoing phase 3 randomized clinical trials, we believe that tenecteplase has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of AIS through thrombolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Marè
- Clinical Neurology, Department of Head, Neck and Neurosciences, Udine University Hospital, Udine, Italy
| | - Simone Lorenzut
- Stroke Unit, Department of Head, Neck and Neurosciences, Udine University Hospital, Udine, Italy
| | - Francesco Janes
- Clinical Neurology, Department of Head, Neck and Neurosciences, Udine University Hospital, Udine, Italy
- Stroke Unit, Department of Head, Neck and Neurosciences, Udine University Hospital, Udine, Italy
| | - Carolina Gentile
- Stroke Unit, Department of Head, Neck and Neurosciences, Udine University Hospital, Udine, Italy
| | - Roberto Marinig
- Stroke Unit, Department of Head, Neck and Neurosciences, Udine University Hospital, Udine, Italy
| | - Yan Tereshko
- Clinical Neurology, Department of Head, Neck and Neurosciences, Udine University Hospital, Udine, Italy
| | | | - Mariarosaria Valente
- Clinical Neurology, Department of Head, Neck and Neurosciences, Udine University Hospital, Udine, Italy
- DAME, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Giovanni Merlino
- Clinical Neurology, Department of Head, Neck and Neurosciences, Udine University Hospital, Udine, Italy
- Stroke Unit, Department of Head, Neck and Neurosciences, Udine University Hospital, Udine, Italy
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Carter JM, Tom RB, Sunesra R, Bilby NJ, Mireles B, Paul KK, Koscumb PA, Cox MW, Jehle DV. D-dimer as a Rule-Out for Aortic Dissection. Cureus 2023; 15:e50170. [PMID: 38186548 PMCID: PMC10771797 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.50170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Acute aortic dissection (AAD) represents a significant diagnostic challenge with a high mortality rate if not treated promptly. This challenge arises from the diverse clinical presentations of AAD, and its symptom overlap with other medical conditions. Although both helical CT and transesophageal echocardiography are reliable diagnostic tools for AAD, they are not feasible for every suspected case. Furthermore, limited research on D-dimer's utility in ruling out AAD has been conducted due to the condition's rarity. Methods This study utilizes the TriNetX database (https://trinetx.com/), encompassing data from 54 healthcare organizations across the United States over the past two decades from 85 million patients. The objective is to evaluate the sensitivity of an elevated D-dimer level in diagnosing AAD across a much larger patient cohort than previously studied. Results Retrospectively analyzing this dataset, there were 1,319 patients identified with a confirmed AAD who had undergone D-dimer testing within a day of diagnosis. Of these, 1,252 patients exhibited D-dimer levels exceeding 400 ng/ml while 1,227 had levels surpassing 500 ng/ml. Notably, a D-dimer cutoff of 400 ng/ml demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.949 while a 500 ng/ml cutoff yielded a sensitivity of 0.930. Conclusion This large retrospective cohort study demonstrates that a blood D-dimer level is highly sensitive in assaying for AAD. The D-dimer levels analyzed showed a remarkable sensitivity in ruling out AAD, avoiding the need for more invasive testing in low-risk patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy M Carter
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Roshan B Tom
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Raheed Sunesra
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Nathaniel J Bilby
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Blake Mireles
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Krishna K Paul
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Paul A Koscumb
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Mitchell W Cox
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
| | - Dietrich V Jehle
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
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