Coronary artery dominance dependent collateral development in the human heart

Background: In obstructive coronary artery disease, coronary collateral arteries serve as alternative conduits for blood flow to the myocardial tissue supplied by the obstructed vessel(s). Therefore, they are a “natural coronary arterial bypass” to the region supplied by the obstructed vessels. This study aims to determine the influence of demographic and morphologic coronary arterial factors on coronary collateral development in coronary arterial obstruction. Materials and methods: The study group was selected from the coronary angiographic records of 2029 consecutive patients (mean age: 59 ± 12 years). Coronary collaterals were graded from 0 to 3 based on the collateral connection between the donor and recipient arteries. The angiograms of the patients (n = 286) with total obstruction of the coronary arteries were selected for analysis. Results: There were no significant association between patients’ age and sex and the formation of excellent collaterals. However, the location of atherosclerotic lesion affected collateral development in the right coronary artery. In addition, the right coronary arterial dominant pattern significantly influenced the formation of excellent coronary collaterals. Conclusions: Coronary collateral arteries are better developed in right dominant pattern. It may be concluded that coronary arterial morphological pattern influences coronary collateral artery development

The prevalence and clinical importance of an “additional” terminal branch of the left coronary artery

The left coronary artery (LCA) usually divides into two (anterior interventricular artery [AIA] and left circumflex [LCx] artery) or less frequently into the AIA, LCx, and one or more “additional” terminal branch/es (ATBs). These ATBs of the LCA have no unanimity regarding their anatomical nomenclature. There is a lack of common consensus on the criteria used for their definition, and they are also absent from the current Terminologia Anatomica (1998). This study, therefore, aimed to document the prevalence of the ATBs of the LCA, discuss their clinical importance, and propose an anatomical nomenclature. This study was conducted by reviewing 367 coronary angiograms. The termination patterns of the LCA were classified into 3 categories based on the number of their branches, viz. (a) bifurcation 78.2%, (b) trifurcation 20.4%, and (c) quadrifurcation 1.4%, respectively. The presence of an ATB was recorded in 21.8% of the angiograms. The identification of this vessel may be of clinical importance because the extent of its supply may decrease the effect of occlusion of the LCx artery and AIA on the myocardium. The term “left ramus medianus artery” is proposed as the nomenclature for the ATB of the LCA

Asthma treatment in children: A pragmatic approach

Background. Asthma is a heterogeneous condition characterised by chronic inflammation and variable expiratory airflow limitation, with airway reversibility. Management of chronic inflammation with anti-asthma medication improves asthma control and quality of life.Objectives. To provide an evidence-based approach for chronic asthma management in young children and adolescents and provide guidance on the use of new asthma drugs in children.Methods. The South African Childhood Asthma Working Group (SACAWG) convened in January 2017. The asthma treatment task group reviewed the available scientific literature and international asthma treatment guidelines. The evidence was then graded according to the Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system and recommendations were made based on scientific evidence and local context. Asthma management recommendations were made for children Ë‚6 years of age and older children and adolescents, as well as for stepping up and stepping down of therapy. This review does not include biologics or novel asthma drugs, which are covered in another CME article in this edition of SAMJ.Conclusions. To ensure good response, treatment and adherence, type of medication, device and checking of technique are all critical. Stepping up of therapy should be done only after ensuring good adherence and technique. Once therapeutic response is achieved, medication administration has to be stepped down to improve ease of use and avoid unnecessary side-effects

Asthma treatment in children: A pragmatic approach

Background. Asthma is a heterogeneous condition characterised by chronic inflammation and variable expiratory airflow limitation, with airway reversibility. Management of chronic inflammation with anti-asthma medication improves asthma control and quality of life.Objectives. To provide an evidence-based approach for chronic asthma management in young children and adolescents and provide guidance on the use of new asthma drugs in children.Methods. The South African Childhood Asthma Working Group (SACAWG) convened in January 2017. The asthma treatment task group reviewed the available scientific literature and international asthma treatment guidelines. The evidence was then graded according to the Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system and recommendations were made based on scientific evidence and local context. Asthma management recommendations were made for children ˂6 years of age and older children and adolescents, as well as for stepping up and stepping down of therapy. This review does not include biologics or novel asthma drugs, which are covered in another CME article in this edition of SAMJ.Conclusions. To ensure good response, treatment and adherence, type of medication, device and checking of technique are all critical. Stepping up of therapy should be done only after ensuring good adherence and technique. Once therapeutic response is achieved, medication administration has to be stepped down to improve ease of use and avoid unnecessary side-effects

Autoantibodies against type I IFNs in patients with critical influenza pneumonia

In an international cohort of 279 patients with hypoxemic influenza pneumonia, we identified 13 patients (4.6%) with autoantibodies neutralizing IFN-alpha and/or -omega, which were previously reported to underlie 15% cases of life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia and one third of severe adverse reactions to live-attenuated yellow fever vaccine. Autoantibodies neutralizing type I interferons (IFNs) can underlie critical COVID-19 pneumonia and yellow fever vaccine disease. We report here on 13 patients harboring autoantibodies neutralizing IFN-alpha 2 alone (five patients) or with IFN-omega (eight patients) from a cohort of 279 patients (4.7%) aged 6-73 yr with critical influenza pneumonia. Nine and four patients had antibodies neutralizing high and low concentrations, respectively, of IFN-alpha 2, and six and two patients had antibodies neutralizing high and low concentrations, respectively, of IFN-omega. The patients' autoantibodies increased influenza A virus replication in both A549 cells and reconstituted human airway epithelia. The prevalence of these antibodies was significantly higher than that in the general population for patients 70 yr of age (3.1 vs. 4.4%, P = 0.68). The risk of critical influenza was highest in patients with antibodies neutralizing high concentrations of both IFN-alpha 2 and IFN-omega (OR = 11.7, P = 1.3 x 10(-5)), especially those <70 yr old (OR = 139.9, P = 3.1 x 10(-10)). We also identified 10 patients in additional influenza patient cohorts. Autoantibodies neutralizing type I IFNs account for similar to 5% of cases of life-threatening influenza pneumonia in patients <70 yr old

The impact of left main coronary artery morphology on the distribution of atherosclerotic lesions in its branches

Background: Atherosclerotic occlusion of a coronary vessel is the commonest causeof ischaemic heart disease. The distribution of atherosclerotic lesions is not random,with stenoses preferentially situated at branch ostia, bifurcation points, and theproximal segments of daughter vessels. The aim of this study was to determinethe effect of the intrinsic anatomical properties of the left main coronary artery(LMCA) on the distribution of atherosclerotic lesions in its branches.Materials and methods: A retrospective review of 170 consecutive coronaryangiograms obtained from the cardiac catheterisation laboratories of privatehospitals in the eThekwini Municipality area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa wasperformed. The LMCA was absent in 19/170 (11.2%). The remaining angiograms(n = 151) were divided into two groups: normal 63/151 (41.7%) and those withcoronary artery disease (CAD) 88/151 (58.3%). The CAD group was sub-dividedinto proximal 42/88 (47.7%), mixed (proximal and distal) 26/88 (29.6%) and distal20/88 (22.7%) sub-groups based on the location of atherosclerotic lesions in thebranches of the LMCA.Results and Conclusions: The mean length, diameter and angle of division of theLMCA were as follows: Total angiograms: 10.4 mm, 3.8 mm and 86.2o; normal group:10.5 mm, 3.9 mm and 85.7o, CAD group: 10.2 mm, 3.7 mm and 86.3o; proximalsub-group: 10.9 mm, 3.7 mm and 91.6o, mixed sub-group — 9.8 mm, 3.7 mm and85o and distal sub-group — 9.1 mm, 3.8 mm and 79.4o, respectively. The vessels withproximally located lesions were recorded to have longer lengths and wider anglesof division than vessels with distal lesions. Coronary angiographic delineation of theLMCA anatomy may be predictive of a coronary arterial arrangement that may favourthe progression of proximally located lesions

LARGE UNSTAINED CELLS ON ROUTINE HEMATOLOGY ANALYZER CORRELATE WITH IMMUNE ACTIVATION LEVELS IN ASYMPTOMATIC TREATMENT-NA�VE HIV INFECTION

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