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Background The benefit of statins in the reduction of cardiovascular events was demonstrated in several placebo-controlled trials. More intensive therapy seems to be associated with greater benefit. Our objective was to compare different statin doses in the reduction of cardiovascular events and deaths, combining direct and indirect evidence, through mixed treatment comparisons (MTC). Methods We conducted a systematic review in MEDLINE and Cochrane CENTRAL. A random-effects Bayesian MTC model was used to combine placebo-controlled and direct statin comparison trials. Intensity of statin doses was classified according to expected LDL-cholesterol reduction effect: ≤30% as low; 30–40%, intermediate, and ≥40%, high. Outcomes evaluated were non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, coronary revascularization and coronary, cardiovascular and all-cause death. Inconsistency was assessed with split-node methodology. Results 47 trials (11 with direct statin comparisons) were included. High doses reduced non-fatal MI by 28% (95% CI: 18%–36%) and by 14% (7%–21%) when compared to low and intermediate doses, respectively. High doses also diminished revascularization [RR versus low and intermediate doses of 0.81 (0.69–0.95) and 0.88 (0.77–0.99), respectively] and stroke [RR of 0.83 (0.68–0.99) against low doses]. Regimen intensity did not change death rates (e.g., for all-cause mortality, RRs of 0.93 (0.80–1.06) and 0.98 (0.87–1.08) for high vs. low and intermediate doses, respectively). No statistical inconsistencies were found in the analyses. Conclusions In this study, in which all available evidence from statin trials was simultaneously analyzed, the benefit of more intensive therapy was restricted to non-fatal events.

Pacientes com doença renal crônica (DRC) apresentam risco aumentado de complicações trombóticas e o uso de cateter venoso central para realização de hemodiálise aumenta este risco. Nós descrevemos um caso de síndrome de Budd-Chiari (SBC) causado pelo mal posicionamento de um cateter de diálise em um paciente com DRC e, para nosso conhecimento, este é o primeiro caso relatado na literatura. Caso clínico: Paciente feminina, 30 anos, com diagnóstico de HIV/ SIDA e DRC em hemodiálise foi admitida na emergência com queixas de febre, prostração e cefaleia há 6 dias. Ela apresentava um cateter de diálise tunelizado implantado 7 dias antes na veia jugular esquerda. O diagnóstico de SBC foi realizado por tomografia computadorizada abdominal que mostrava um trombo no interior da veia cava inferior o qual estendia-se desde o átrio direito até a veia hepática esquerda. O cateter foi removido e a paciente foi anticoagulada. A paciente estava assintomática no momento da alta hospitalar. Discussão: SBC é uma condição clínica rara causada por trombose das veias hepáticas, podendo envolver desde uma até todas as três principais veias. Esta síndrome é em geral associada a desordens mieloproliferativas, a malignidades e a situações de hipercoagulabilidade. Este caso demonstra que o mal posicionamento da ponta do cateter no interior da veia hepática causou esta rara complicação. Conclusão: Realização de exame radiológico para avaliar localização da ponta do cateter de diálise é uma medida prudente após cada procedimento, mesmo nos casos de implante de cateter de diálise tunelizados com fluoroscopia. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at increased risk for thrombotic complications. The use of central venous catheters as dialysis vascular access additionally increases this risk. We describe the first case of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) secondary to central venous catheter misplacement in a patient with CKD. Case report: A 30-year-old female patient with HIV/AIDS and CKD on hemodialysis was admitted to the emergency room for complaints of fever, prostration, and headache in the last six days. She had a tunneled dialysis catheter placed at the left jugular vein. The diagnosis of BCS was established by abdominal computed tomography that showed a partial thrombus within the inferior vena cava which extended from the right atrium to medium hepatic vein, and continuing along the left hepatic vein. Patient was treated with anticoagulants and discharged asymptomatic. Discussion: Budd-Chiari syndrome is a rare medical condition caused by hepatic veins thrombosis. It can involve one, two, or all three of the major hepatic veins. It is usually related to myeloproliferative disorders, malignancy and hypercoagulable states. This case calls attention for inadvertent catheter tip placement into hepatic vein leading to this rare complication. Conclusion: Assessment of catheter dialysis tip location with radiological image seems to be a prudent measure after each procedure even if the tunneled dialysis catheter has been introduced with fluoroscopy image.

The incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing in patients younger than 50 years. In this population, the disease appears to be more aggressive and advanced at the time of diagnosis, although initial symptoms are similar. Majority of the cases are sporadic tumors, but some are related to hereditary syndromes such as Lynch syndrome, which is why genetic testing is indicated. We report the case of a 17-year-old patient with colorectal cancer and no family history of bowel cancer.

The aging of the population is a universal phenomenon with direct consequences upon the public health system. One of the main repercussions of the growth in this sector of the population is the increased prevalence of disorders such as dementia and depression which are very frequent among the elderly. The relationship between cardiovascular risk factors, dementia and depression have been addressed in many recent investigations. Objectives: To evaluate the relationship of cognitive performance and depressive symptoms with cardiovascular risk in the elderly. Methods: 94 high cardiovascular risk elderly patients and 160 healthy community elderly were evaluated cross-sectionally. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) were used as the main measures. The cutoff for presence of depression was 6 on the GDS. Results: The high cardiovascular risk elderly group showed significantly lower scores on the MMSE (p

Background Vasopressors and inotropes remain a cornerstone in stabilization of the severely impaired hemodynamics and cardiac output in cardiogenic shock (CS). The aim of this study was to analyze current real-life use of these medications, and their impact on outcome and on changes in cardiac and renal biomarkers over time in CS. Methods The multinational CardShock study prospectively enrolled 219 patients with CS. The use of vasopressors and inotropes was analyzed in relation to the primary outcome, i.e., 90-day mortality, with propensity score methods in 216 patients with follow-up data available. Changes in cardiac and renal biomarkers over time until 96 hours from baseline were analyzed with linear mixed modeling. Results Patients were 67 (SD 12) years old, 26 % were women, and 28 % had been resuscitated from cardiac arrest prior to inclusion. On average, systolic blood pressure was 78 (14) and mean arterial pressure 57 (11) mmHg at detection of shock. 90-day mortality was 41 %. Vasopressors and/or inotropes were administered to 94 % of patients and initiated principally within the first 24 hours. Noradrenaline and adrenaline were given to 75 % and 21 % of patients, and 30 % received several vasopressors. In multivariable logistic regression, only adrenaline (21 %) was independently associated with increased 90-day mortality (OR 5.2, 95 % CI 1.88, 14.7, p = 0.002). The result was independent of prior cardiac arrest (39 % of patients treated with adrenaline), and the association remained in propensity-score-adjusted analysis among vasopressor-treated patients (OR 3.0, 95 % CI 1.3, 7.2, p = 0.013); this was further confirmed by propensity-score-matched analysis. Adrenaline was also associated, independent of prior cardiac arrest, with marked worsening of cardiac and renal biomarkers during the first days. Dobutamine and levosimendan were the most commonly used inotropes (49 % and 24 %). There were no differences in mortality, whether noradrenaline was combined with dobutamine or levosimendan. Conclusion Among vasopressors and inotropes, adrenaline was independently associated with 90-day mortality in CS. Moreover, adrenaline use was associated with marked worsening in cardiac and renal biomarkers. The combined use of noradrenaline with either dobutamine or levosimendan appeared prognostically similar. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13054-016-1387-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.