Respiratory disturbance index as a predictor of atrial fibrillation

Background

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a risk factor for development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Recent pacemakers have specific algorithms for detecting of OSA based on impedance measurement.

Purpose

The aim was to determine the burden of AF in patients with high respiratory disturbance index (RDI). It was also intended to determine if the onset of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) reduced the AF burden.

Methods

Retrospective observational study carried out through the analysis of the patient records. It included patients with pacemakers evaluated in an outpatient clinic during the first 8 months of 2018. All had the RDI algorithm. AF burden was assessed according to automatic mode switch (AMS) duration. The percentage of nights with an RDI>20/h was analysed to assess the risk of OSA.

Results

108 patients were included (mean age=70.3±9.0 years; 56.5% men). The most prevalent indication for cardiac pacing was atrioventricular node dysfunction (59.3%). The average percentage of nights with an RDI>20/h was 44.2%. The average follow-up (FU) period was 4.1 years.

Of all cardiovascular risk factors, diabetes mellitus was the only one associated with a higher incidence of AF at FU (p=0.044).

Considering just the patients with an RDI >20/h in more than 20% of nights (RDI20%), male gender was associated with higher rate of major adverse cardiovascular events [(acute myocardial infarction, stroke, acute heart failure and death) (p=0.019)].

Considering patients with AF prior to pacemaker implantation (n=34), 76% of patients had an RDI >20/h in more than 20% of nights (mean of 58.1%). 23 of these patients had long standing persistent AF at the end of FU (vs 17 at the beginnig of FU).

Considering patients who developed AF after pacemaker implantation (n=24), 58% of patients had an RDI>20/h in more than 20% of nights (mean of 45.3%). Most patients had paroxismal AF (83%).

Patients with prior paroxysmal AF or those who developed AF during FU (n=37) had a higher burden of AF at the end of FU when they had RDI >20/h in more than 50% of nights (mean burden of 24.66% vs 14.69%, p=0.005).

There was no statistically significant correlation between the percentage of nights with RDI >20/h and the Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) value. Patients who underwent polysomnography (n=30) had a mean AHI of 16/h (which corresponds to moderately severe OSA). 63% of patients who were referred from the pacemaker consultation to pneumology and performed polysomnography started CPAP.

CPAP use was not associated with a statistically significant reduction in any endpoints or AF burden.

Conclusion

A high RDI was associated with onset of de novo AF and higher AF burden in patients with paroxysmal AF. Thus, there is a rationale for early diagnosis and treatment of OSAS to prevent and reduce AF progression.

In this study, CPAP was not shown to significantly reduce this endpoint, probably due to reduced polysomnography and CPAP treatment.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

P-064 Clinical outcomes of 127 patients with recurrent implantation failure treated with testicular sperm aspiration (TESA)

Study question

Are the embryological, clinical and newborn outcomes using aspirated testicular sperm improved in cases with recurrent implantation failure previously treated with ejaculated sperm?

Summary answer

Aspirated testicular sperm enabled to obtain significant higher embryological, clinical and newborn outcomes in cases with recurrent implantation failure previously treated with ejaculated sperm.

What is known already

High levels of sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) were associated to poor clinical outcomes (1-Simon et al., 2017). Testicular sperm display lower SDF than ejaculated sperm (2-Sakas and Alvarez, 2010), improving clinical outcomes in cases with abnormal semen parameters (3-Awaga et al., 2018; 4-Kang et al., 2018), recurrent implantation failure (RIF) and pregnancy loss (RPL) (5-Esteves et al., 2017), and elevated SDF (6-Ambar et al., 2021). As only a few studies are specifically dedicated to RIF, we expanded the number of cases and first provided full demographic, stimulation, embryological, clinical and newborn outcomes.

References

1-(https://doi.org/10.4103/1008-682X.182822);

2-(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.10.046);

3-(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbmo.2018.08.017);

4-(https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-26280-0);

5-(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.06.018);

6-(https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.200084

Study design, size, duration

We retrospectively evaluated during consecutive years (2010-2020) 63 patients with recurrent implantation failure, which accepted to perform testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) as an alternative treatment. These patients presented a long history of failed treatments (153 cycles) using ejaculated sperm. From these cycles, no pregnancy ensued. The present study compares 127 treatment cycles, 80 with testicular sperm (17 cases repeated TESA) and 47 with ejaculated sperm from the same patients performed at the present IVF clinic.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Patients were screened for karyotype abnormalities, for Y-chromosome microdeletions (7-Gonçalves et al., 2016), and for SDF with the TUNEL assay (8-Sá et al., 2015). Conventional semen analysis was performed according to World Health Organization guidelines (9-WHO, 2010). Male evaluation and TESA was performed by the same experienced urologist (LF) according to established protocols (10-Madureira et al 2014). The procedure was performed entirely on an outpatient basis, with no complications reported.

References

7-(https://doi.org/10.4103/1008-682X.172827);

8-(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbmo.2015.06.019);

9-(https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/44261);

10-(https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2047-2927.2014.00231.x).

Main results and the role of chance

The mean ages were 35.5±3.4 (26-42)-female and 38.1±5.7 (29-59)-male. There were 4 abnormal karyotypes (3-female, 1-male), all without known relevance. Most cases had asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia (65.1%), or oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (41.8%). Of the 19 cases with <5M/ml, none presented Y-chromosome microdeletions. Although we do not routinely perform SDF testing, 15 patients had previous SDF values (12, >20%; 8, >36%). Female basal characteristics and testicular evaluation were under normal values. The TESA procedure took about 15-20 min, and the time of laboratorial search around 30-60 min. Cases using testicular sperm showed significant higher rates of fertilization (64% vs 73%-p=0.005), blastocyst development (47% vs 62%-p=0.010), implantation (6% vs 27%-p=0.000), clinical pregnancy (10% vs 39%-p=0.001), live birth delivery (5% vs 28%-p=0.005) and newborn (5% vs 32%-p=0.000) than ejaculated sperm. No significant differences were observed regarding the rates of embryo cleavage (95% vs 94.8%) and high quality embryos (89.4% vs 94%), in the mean number of transferred embryos (1.8±0.4 vs 1.9±0.4), or in the abortion rate (2 cases-50% vs 7 cases-25.9%). Cases using testicular sperm had 22 frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles, enabling per initiated cycle a cumulative pregnancy rate of 45%, live birth delivery rate of 31.3% and newborn rate of 37.5% (32 newborn).

Limitations, reasons for caution

Although presenting the higher number of cycles using TESA in the treatment of RIF, this number needs to be increased for drawing more definitive conclusions, as these women present a diversity of conditions, rendering subgrouping difficult. In the future, it would also be important to evaluate SDF in all cases.

Wider implications of the findings

In conclusion, the present results gave further evidence for the superiority of using testicular sperm instead of ejaculated sperm in cases with recurrent implantation failure. Data also evidences the security of using testicular sperm aspiration, as there were no pregnancy or delivery complications, or congenital anomalies among the 32 newborn.

Trial registration number

Not Applicable

Rhythm control in patients with atrial fibrillation admitted to outpatient clinic

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice. Patients are often symptomatic leading to a reduction in quality of life. Recent studies suggests that early rhythm control therapy have a clinical benefit in patients with recently diagnosed AF.

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate outpatient with AF referred to an outpatient clinic to electrical Cardioversion. Besides that, the study aims to evaluate if outpatient referred from the emergency room had spontaneously reverted to sinus rhythm.

Material and Methods

Retrospective observational study carried out through the analysis of the clinical process. Clinical data were collected from AF patients evaluated in an outpatient clinic during the year of 2020. Statistical analysis was made using R software and RStudio.

Results

This study included 92 patients evaluated in an outpatient clinic and referred because paroxysmal, persistent and long standing AF to electrical cardioversion. Average age was 67.3 ± 10.1 years. 78 patients had atrial fibrillation and 14 patients had atrial flutter. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor (n=83; 79,3%), followed by dislipidemia (n=66; 71.7%), overweight (n=43; 46,7%), diabetes mellitus (n=27; 29.3%) and smoke (n=20; 21.7%). 15 patients had paroxysmal AF, 67 patients had persistent AF and 10 patients had long standing AF. CHA2DS2VASC median were 2,78 ± 1.66 and HASBLED median was 1,14 ± 0.94. The heart rate control were most frequently made with betablocker (n=78; 84.7%). 4 patients (4,3%) were medicated with digoxin and 3 patients with calcium channel blockers. 69 patients were forwarded from external consultant and 23 patients from the emergency room (ER). We verified that 12 patients (52,2%) were in sinus rhythm in admission of outpatient clinic and had spontaneously reversion to sinus rhythm. Mostly patients with paroxysmal AF were from the ER (80% of all patients, p<.001) and mostly patients with persistent and long standing AF were from external consultant (respectively 82% p<0.01 and 85% p<0,01). Symptoms improvement were evaluated by EHRA classification. Mostly patients had clinical improvement after electrical or spontaneously cardioversion (63%, p.0.02). The median EHRA score previous to CVE were "2" and after cardioversion were "1".

Conclusions

Risk factor control is the cornerstone of AF prevention. Control rhythm is important to improve clinical symptons related to AF. However, we can delay cardioversion in a recent acute episode in the emergency room. In our sample, it seems that AF with short natural story presents more in emergency room and the more chronic comes to our consultation.

Acute myocardial infarction at an early age – importance of acute chest pain fast track in patient management

Background

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has a higher incidence in middle-aged and elderly patients but 2% to 6% of ACS cases occur in people younger than 45 years of age (Y). Younger patients have different clinical characteristics when compared to older patients. Acute chest pain fast track led to a reduction in the time required for the diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes, particularly those with ST segment elevation (STEMI).

Aim

This study aims to assess the differences in risk factors and clinical characteristics between young and older ACS patients. Besides that, we try to determine if the benefits of acute chest pain fast track have extended to this younger population.

Material and methods

Retrospective observational study carried out through the analysis of the clinical process. Clinical data were collected from ACS patients under 45Y from 2010 to 2019 and from ACS patients over 45Y from 2010 to 2012. Statistical analysis was made using R software and RStudio.

Results

This study included 93 patients with ACS under 45Y and 172 patients with ACS over 45Y. A total of 265 patients were included. The male gender was predominant in both groups but with a higher prevalence in the younger ones (88% vs 73%, p<0,005). The prevalence of hypertension was higher in older ACS patients but the younger ones had more overweight (39.8% vs 17.4%, p<0,001), smoking history (84.9% vs 38.4%, p<0,001) and family history of sudden death (25.8% vs 5.8%, p<0,01). Diabetes had no statistical difference. Dyslipidemia as previous known risk factor had no statistical difference but LDL was higher in patients with less than 45Y (147.2 vs 120.7 mg/dL, p<0,001). STEMI were tendentially more prevalent in patients under 45Y (55.9% vs 44.8%, p 0.09). The anterior wall was the most frequently involved in both groups (52% vs 63%, p 0.28), followed by the inferior wall (42% vs 36%). Accordantly, anterior descending artery was the artery most frequently involved in both groups (44.1% vs 48.3%), followed by right coronary artery (24.7 vs 26.7%). STEMI patients under 45Y were submitted to an emergent coronary angiography in 89% of cases and STEMI patients over than 45Y were submitted in 70.1% of cases. Particularly for patients under 45Y, all STEMI patients were submitted to an emergent coronary angiography after 2014, which emphasis the importance of acute chest pain fast track in the emergency room. Finally, ACS patients under 45Y were less submitted to percutaneous coronary angiography compared to patients over 45Y (15.1% vs 4.7%, p<0,001).

Conclusions

Cardiovascular risk factors differ accordingly the age of ACS patients. Younger patients had more overweight and smoking history. They probably have alternative pathophysiologic mechanisms that explain differences in percutaneous coronary angiography. Acute chest pain fast track had an important role reducing morbimortality related to ACS by reducing the time until STEMI diagnose.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

How did the first pandemic COVID wave affect acute myocardial infarction hospital assistance?

 

There is a general notion that the COVID pandemic has made access to adequate health care difficult. A retrospective study looked at patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) admitted to a hospital, including the time between admission and diagnosis, the time until treatment, and the delay in transferring to a hospital with a catheterization laboratory in the case of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI).The period analysed was March to July 2019 and March to July 2020 (first Covid pandemic wave). 197 patients, 101 in 2019 (SCA19) and 96 in 2020 (SCAcov), 142 males (72%) mean age 67.3±12.6. It was observed in 2019 29 STEMI and 72 acute myocardial infarct without ST elevation (NSTEMI) na 2020 36 STEMI and 60 NSTEMI, this proportions didn't achieve statistical meaning χ2(1)=1.719, p=0.226. When compared SCA19 versus SCAcov there were no differences between groups in relation to demographic data. The clinical presentation (none, hemodynamic instability, refractory pain, arrhythmia, mechanic complication, acute heart failure) not varied between groups χ2(6)=3.42, p=0.755. When analysed, between SCA19 and SCAcov, there were no significant time difference between the admission and the electrocardiogram execution (MSCA19 = 44.78; MSCAcov = 56.84; Tweich (132.66) = −0.73, p=0.476 g Hedge = 0.71, between time of admission and time of diagnosis MSCA19 = 264.84; MSCAcov = 254.2; Tweich (188.81) = −0.34, p=0.731 g Hedge = 0.05, and the duration of hospitalization MSCA19 = 5.90; MSCAcov = 5.78 U=9400, Z=−0.263, p<0.792.

Conclusion

In COVID times even with the all restrictions and contingencies lived in hospitals our results pointed to no significant changes in the variables analysed. Interestingly, in spite of no significant difference, a slightly more delay in ECG execution, higher prevalence of STEMI but a short time of diagnosis were observed.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Characterization of CCDC103 expression profiles: further insights in primary ciliary dyskinesia and in human reproduction

PROPOSE

To study CCDC103 expression profiles and understand how pathogenic variants in CCDC103 affect its expression profile at mRNA and protein level.

METHODS

To increase the knowledge about the CCDC103, we attempted genotype-phenotype correlations in two patients carrying novel homozygous (missense and frameshift) CCDC103 variants. Whole-exome sequencing, quantitative PCR, Western blot, electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, and immunogold labelling were performed to characterize CCDC103 expression profiles in reproductive and somatic cells.

RESULTS

Our data demonstrate that pathogenic variants in CCDC103 gene negatively affect gene and protein expression in both patients who presented absence of DA on their axonemes. Further, we firstly report that CCDC103 is expressed at different levels in reproductive tissues and somatic cells and described that CCDC103 protein forms oligomers with tissue-specific sizes, which suggests that CCDC103 possibly undergoes post-translational modifications. Moreover, we reported that CCDC103 was restricted to the midpiece of sperm and is present at the cytoplasm of the other cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our data support the CCDC103 involvement in PCD and suggest that CCDC103 may have different assemblies and roles in cilia and sperm flagella biology that are still unexplored.

Expression of Estrogen Receptors Alpha (ER-α), Beta (ER-β), and G Protein-Coupled Receptor 30 (GPR30) in Testicular Tissue of Men with Klinefelter Syndrome

Men with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) present severe hormonal dysregulation, particularly elevated serum estradiol concentration. Estrogens act through specific receptors and regulate testes development and spermatogenesis. Herein, we evaluated GPR30, ERα, and ERβ mRNA expression in testis of KS men and men with 46XY karyotype by reverse transcriptase and quantitative PCR. ERβ transcripts are the most abundant in testicular tissue of 46XY men. Notably, testicular GPR30 transcription in KS men was approximately 12 times higher. Since GPR30 is essential to mediate estrogen effects over steroidogenesis, our data illustrate that GPR30 may underpin the testicular alterations observed in KS men.

Adult circumcision and male sexual health: a retrospective analysis

We aimed to evaluate possible associations of circumcision with several sexual dysfunctions and to identify predictors for the development of these outcomes post-operatively. Telephone surveys about sexual habits and dysfunctions before and after intervention were conducted post-operatively to patients that underwent circumcision in Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho during 2011. McNemar test was used for a matched-pairs analysis of pre- and post-operative data. Odds ratios, adjusted in a multivariate analysis, explored predictors of de novo sexual dysfunctions after circumcision. With intervention, there was an increase in frequency of erectile dysfunction (9.7% versus 25.8%, P = 0.002) and delayed orgasm (11.3% versus 48.4%, P < 0.001), and a significant symptomatic improvement in patients with pain with intercourse (50.0% versus 6.5%, P < 0.001). Significant predictors for de novo erectile dysfunction were diabetes mellitus (OR 9.81, P = 0.048) and lack of sexual desire (OR 8.76, P = 0.028). Less than three sex partners (OR 7.04, P = 0.007) and low sexual desire (OR 7.49, P = 0.029) were significant predictors for de novo delayed orgasm.

[Ambulatory surgery in urology: first numbers of a successful program]

The ambulatory surgery includes those surgical procedures that require a small period of post-operative recovery so that the patients will be discharged from the hospital in the same day of the surgical intervention. In Urology, the vast amount of pathology that allows the cure with medium and low complexity surgical procedures makes this specialty a privileged one in which ambulatory surgery is concerned. In this paper the authors propose to describe how their Urology group works in the ambulatory field. 472 patients where reviewed in an evaluation period from January 2006 to April 2008. The medical appointment protocol is summarized as well as the most common surgical procedures and complications. Annually we operate an average of 200 ambulatory patients and this represents about 22% of the hole surgical activity of the Urology group. The majority of the surgeries are circumcisions and vasectomies (always associated with other small procedures). There is a 5 hours weakly period where a total of 5 to 6 patients are operated. Surgical complications represented 1.6% of total procedures, all of them late ones. With this specific ambulatory program our service managed to reduce drastically the waiting time for this kind of procedures (now-a-days is about 3-4 weeks), with a satisfaction rate of about 95%. According to the great outcomes, low complications rate and great acceptance of the patients, the development of this unit is without doubt a winning project in patients care.

[Pre-natal retroperitoneal mass: teratoma or fetus in fetu?]

BACKGROUND

Several case reports in the literature brought to discussion the distinction criteria between fetus in fetu and teratoma.

CASE REPORT

The authors present a case report of a premature newborn boy, evaluated for a capsulated abdominal mass with prenatal diagnosis pointing to possible malignant lesion. A CT scan showed an expansive, retroperitoneal lesion, from kidneys to pelvis, sacrum and coccyx, with solid, cystic and fatty areas; the fine needle aspiration was inconclusive, and he underwent surgery on day 9 with partial resection of the lesion. A new procedure to complete the excision was performed 8 months later. The histopathologic examination of the two fragments showed mature and organized components of nervous system, respiratory and digestive apparatus (liver and pancreas included), thymus, nervous ganglia, skin and adnexa, musculoskeletal and brown adipose tissues; cartilage and several focus of calcification. These components showed a craniocaudal orientation, but no evidence of organoid formation.

DISCUSSION

This case presents features of both teratoma and fetus in fetu. The assumption of either one of the diagnosis has prognostic implications, with resulting differences in clinical follow up and expectations about the child's health.

Predictive value of testicular histology in secretory azoospermic subgroups and clinical outcome after microinjection of fresh and frozen-thawed sperm and spermatids

BACKGROUND

A retrospective study was carried out on 159 treatment cycles in 148 secretory azoospermic patients to determine whether histopathological secretory azoospermic subgroups were predictive for gamete retrieval, and to evaluate outcome of microinjection using fresh or frozen-thawed testicular sperm and spermatids.

METHODS

Sperm and spermatids were recovered by open testicular biopsy and microinjected into oocytes. Fertilization and pregnancy rates were assessed.

RESULTS

In hypoplasia, 97.7% of the 44 patients had late spermatids/sperm recovered. In maturation-arrest (MA; 47 patients), 31.9% had complete MA, and 68.1% incomplete MA due to a focus of early (36.2%) or late (31.9%) spermiogenesis. Gamete retrieval was achieved in 53.3, 41.2 and 93.3% of the cases respectively. In Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS; 57 patients), 61.4% were complete SCOS, whereas incomplete SCOS cases showed one focus of MA (5.3%), or of early (29.8%) and late (3.5%) spermiogenesis. Only 29.8% of the patients had a successful gamete retrieval, 2.9% in complete and 77.3% in incomplete SCOS cases. In total, there were 87 ICSI, 39 elongated spermatid injection (ELSI) and 33 round spermatid injection (ROSI) treatment cycles, with mean values of fertilization rate of 71.4, 53.6 and 17%, and clinical pregnancy rates of 31.7, 26.3 and 0% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Histopathological subgroups were positively correlated with successful gamete retrieval. No major outcome differences were observed between testicular sperm and elongated spermatids, either fresh or frozen-thawed. However, injection of intact round-spermatids showed very low rates of fertilization and no pregnancies.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase aveiro: a de novo mutation associated with chronic nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a common X-linked enzyme abnormality. The clinical phenotype is variable but often predictable from the molecular lesion. Class I variants (the most severe forms of the disease) cluster within exon 10, in a region that, at the protein level, is believed to be involved in dimerization. Here we describe a de novo mutation (C269Y) of a new class I variant (G6PD Aveiro) that maps to exon 8. Mutant and normal alleles were found in both hematopoietic and buccal cells, indicating the presence of mosaicism. The available model of the protein predicts that this lesion lies in proximity to the dimer interface of the molecule. A possible mechanism to explain the severity of the defect is proposed. (Blood. 2000;95:1499-1501)

[Sexually transmitted diseases]

The control of STD is a public-health priority. Since STD share many behavioural risk factors, efforts to encourage individuals to modify sexual behaviours and adopt safer sexual practices is very important.

[Linear accelerator radiosurgery]

Radiosurgery is the precise radiation of a known intracranial target with a high dose of energy, sparing the adjacent nervous tissue. Technological advances in the construction of linear accelerators, stereotactic instruments and in computer sciences made this technique easier to perform and affordable. The main indications for radiosurgery are inoperable cerebral vascular malformations, vestibular and other cranial schwannomas, skull base meningiomas, deep seated gliomas and cerebral metastases. More recently, the development of fraccionated stereotactic radiotherapy increased the spectrum of indications to bigger lesions and to those adjacent to critical nervous structures. We present our initial experience in the treatment of 31 patients. An adequate control of the neoplastic lesions was obtained and the adequate time of observation is still needed to evaluate the results in arteriovenous malformations.