Biomarkers and Noncalcified Coronary Artery Plaque Progression in Older Men Treated With Testosterone.

ObjectiveRecent results from the Cardiovascular Trial of the Testosterone Trials showed that testosterone treatment of older men with low testosterone was associated with greater progression of noncalcified plaque (NCP). We evaluated the effect of anthropometric measures and cardiovascular biomarkers on plaque progression in individuals in the Testosterone Trial.MethodsThe Cardiovascular part of the trial included 170 men aged 65 years or older with low testosterone. Participants received testosterone gel or placebo gel for 12 months. The primary outcome was change in NCP volume from baseline to 12 months, as determined by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). We assayed several markers of cardiovascular risk and analyzed each marker individually in a model as predictive variables and change in NCP as the dependent variable.ResultsOf 170 enrollees, 138 (73 testosterone, 65 placebo) completed the study and were available for the primary analysis. Of 10 markers evaluated, none showed a significant association with the change in NCP volume, but a significant interaction between treatment assignment and waist-hip ratio (WHR) (P = 0.0014) indicated that this variable impacted the testosterone effect on NCP volume. The statistical model indicated that for every 0.1 change in the WHR, the testosterone-induced 12-month change in NCP volume increased by 26.96 mm3 (95% confidence interval, 7.72-46.20).ConclusionAmong older men with low testosterone treated for 1 year, greater WHR was associated with greater NCP progression, as measured by CCTA. Other biomarkers and anthropometric measures did not show statistically significant association with plaque progression

Factors leading to poor outcome of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective: To determine frequency of factors leading to poor outcome of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted at our center between May 2012 and November 2012. A total of 195 diagnosed patients of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease meeting the inclusion criteria were selected from the ER department. At the time of admission age was inquired BP, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation will be noted and pedal edema was assessed and investigations were sent for pH assessment. Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) using BiPAP was applied in spontaneous mode by the help of oronasal mask. Presence of respiratory rate (less than 12/min), systolic blood pressure 140 bpm was taken as poor outcome. Results: The average age of the cases was 61.9±9.3 years with male to female ratio being 1.5:1. NIPPV was successful in 151 (77.4%) cases and 44 (22.6%) cases were underwent endotracheal intubation. About 38 (44.7%) of patients with oxygen saturation (82%–86%) had poor prognosis. A total of 40 (55.6%) of patients with pH range 7.20–7.26, required endotracheal intubation, 43 (66.2%) with pedal edema underwent endotracheal intubation. While 29 (24.16%) patients of age >60 years needed endotracheal intubation. Conclusions: In this study, NIPPV was successful in 77.4% cases and 22.6% cases were underwent endotracheal intubation. Pedal edema was the most common factor leading to poor outcomes while age >60 years was the least common factor, 66.2% and 24.2% respectively

Biomarkers and Noncalcified Coronary Artery Plaque Progression in Older Men Treated With Testosterone.

Recent results from the Cardiovascular Trial of the Testosterone Trials showed that testosterone treatment of older men with low testosterone was associated with greater progression of noncalcified plaque (NCP). We evaluated the effect of anthropometric measures and cardiovascular biomarkers on plaque progression in individuals in the Testosterone Trial. The Cardiovascular part of the trial included 170 men aged 65 years or older with low testosterone. Participants received testosterone gel or placebo gel for 12 months. The primary outcome was change in NCP volume from baseline to 12 months, as determined by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). We assayed several markers of cardiovascular risk and analyzed each marker individually in a model as predictive variables and change in NCP as the dependent variable. Of 170 enrollees, 138 (73 testosterone, 65 placebo) completed the study and were available for the primary analysis. Of 10 markers evaluated, none showed a significant association with the change in NCP volume, but a significant interaction between treatment assignment and waist-hip ratio (WHR) (P = 0.0014) indicated that this variable impacted the testosterone effect on NCP volume. The statistical model indicated that for every 0.1 change in the WHR, the testosterone-induced 12-month change in NCP volume increased by 26.96 mm3 (95% confidence interval, 7.72-46.20). Among older men with low testosterone treated for 1 year, greater WHR was associated with greater NCP progression, as measured by CCTA. Other biomarkers and anthropometric measures did not show statistically significant association with plaque progression