3/February/2022 Top Medical Bulletin

Here are todays top medical stories:

Diabetes a serious risk of heart failure   

Diabetes and cardiac diseases go hand in hand, Hyperglycemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body's systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels. Diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of heart failure both in terms of occurrence and severity. The risk of heart failure in association with diabetes mellitus status in patients with coronary artery disease over time, from acute myocardial infarction to the chronic stable phase was brought out by a study in the journal Diabetes and Metabolism. Diabetes was associated with a very constant near 2-fold increase in the risk of heart failure with presentation of Coronary Artery Disease. Avoiding the risk of Heart failure occurrence in Coronary Artery Disease patients with Diabetes mellitus is critical in daily practice and should be a constant life-long endeavour.

Infarct size of circulating fibrocyte levels a risk factor for Myocardial Infarction

Cardiac arrest is characterized by ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). It is one type of myocardial infarction in which a part of the heart muscle (myocardium) has died due to the obstruction of blood supply to the area. Infarct size is a strong predictor of outcomes after ST elevation myocardial infarction. Circulating fibrocytes are bone marrow-derived progenitor cells associated with fibrotic processes.

According to a study in American Heart Journal Circulating fibrocytes measured 6 months after STEMI positively correlate with 6-month infarct size assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Fibrocytes have been shown to home to the injured myocardium in patients with myocardial infarction, and the concentration of circulating fibrocytes is a serious risk factor that has to be considered.

Smoking affects cardiac troponin complex even after cessation

Smokers are more prone to cardiac diseases. In a new study, it was shown that current and past cigarette smoking is related to reduced high-sensitivity assays (hs‐cTnI) concentrations in the general population. Time since smoking cessation was related to rising hs-cTnI concentrations, showing a hs-cTnI continuum from current smokers to never-smokers. This study was conducted by Julia Brox Skranes and team, the results of which were published in the Journal of American Heart Association.

Cardiac troponins are a sensitive indicator of subclinical myocardial damage and have been linked to an elevated risk of cardiovascular events in the general population. Despite both cardiac troponins and cigarette smoking having positive links with cardiovascular risk, hs-cTnI show that concentrations of cardiac troponin I are lower in current smokers than in never smokers. The effect of smoking intensity and duration since quitting on hscTnI is unclear.

For more information check out the full story on the link below:

Smoking affects cardiac troponin complex even after cessation: AHA

Longer Screen time associated with autism spectrum disorder in Infants

Usage of electronic gadgets have adverse effects. Longer screen use at 1 year of age was connected with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at 3 years of age in males, says an article published in the Journal of American Medical Association on 31st January, 2022. However, It is uncertain to what degree infant screen usage is linked to the later diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

This study was conducted by Megumi Kushima and team with the objective to look at the relationship between screen usage in childhood and the development of autism spectrum disorder at the age of three.

The Japan Environment and Children's Study Group conducted the research in partnership with 15 regional centers around Japan. The screen time limitation was set at one year of age. A questionnaire sent to the mothers of the participating children was used to assess the outcome variable, children identified with autism spectrum disorder at the age of three.

For more information check out the full story on the link below:

Longer Screen time associated with autism spectrum disorder in Infants: JAMA