Adverse Childhood Experiences as “Upstream” Determinants of Lifestyle-Related Chronic Disease: A Scoping Perspective

We have previously proposed a list of determinants (causes) of modern lifestyle-related chronic disorders, which provides a structure for the emerging discipline of lifestyle medicine. This consists of lifestyle factors with a common immune biomarker ( metaflammation) that interact in a systems fashion linked with chronic disease outcomes. We considered this to be a work in progress and later added 3 psychosocial determinants into the causal mix: meaninglessness, alienation, and loss of culture and identity (MAL). Here, we propose adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as deeper, or even more distal, disease drivers that may act directly or indirectly through MAL to influence later chronic disease. The links with metaflammation and the need for recognition of these embedded scars in the management of lifestyle-related health problems is discussed.

Crohn's Disease of the Esophagus, Duodenum, and Stomach

Upper gastrointestinal Crohn's is an under-reported, under-recognized phenotype of Crohn's disease. Routine screening in the pediatric population has shown a higher prevalence compared with adults; however, most adult patients remain asymptomatic with respect to upper gastrointestinal Crohn's disease. For the patients who are symptomatic, medical treatment is the first line of management, except for cases of obstruction, perforation, or bleeding. Though most patients respond to medical therapy, mainly steroids, with the addition of immunomodulators and more recently biologics agents, surgical intervention is usually required only for obstructing gastroduodenal disease secondary to strictures. Strictureplasty and bypass are safe operations with comparable morbidity, although bypass has higher rates of dumping syndrome and marginal ulceration in the long term. Rare cases of gastroduodenal fistulous disease from active distal disease may involve the stomach or duodenum, and esophageal Crohn's disease can fistulize to surrounding structures in the mediastinum which may require the highly morbid esophagectomy.

Left main stenting induced flow disturbances on ascending aorta and aortic arch

Background and Objective Ostial LM stenting potentially induces turbulence in the aortic wall near the LM ostium, which might be correlated with aorta dilation and dissection. We investigated through a computational fluid dynamic analysis (CFD), the presence and potential consequences of flow turbulences both in the ascending aorta and arch after a stenting left main (LM) mid shaft or distal disease. Methods The model of the ascending aorta and left coronary artery was reconstructed reviewing both angiographic and echocardiographic measurements of 80 consecutive patients (43 males, mean age 75.1 ± 6.2 years) with significant LM mid shaft or distal disease treated in our institution. For stent simulation, a third-generation everolimus-eluting stent was reconstructed. Two stenting procedures (lesion 1:1 or ostial coverage) were investigated. Results The net area averaged WSS of the model resulted higher when the stent covered the lesion 1:1 compared to the ostial coverage (3.68 vs. 2.06 Pa, P=0.01 and 3.97 vs. 1.98 Pa, P < 0.001, respectively). LM ostial coverage generates more turbulences in the LM itself, in the aortic wall at ostium level, and at the sino-tubular junction compared with the stenting of the lesion 1:1. Conversely, in the ascending aorta, the WSS appears lower when stenting the lesion 1:1. Conclusion Extending the stent coverage up to the ostium, when the ostial region is not diseased, might induce unfavorable alterations of flow; not only both at the level of the LM lesion and ostium sites, but also in the ascending aorta and aortic arch, potentially predisposing the aortic wall to long-term damage.

Rheolytic effects of left main mid-shaft/distal stenting: a computational flow dynamic analysis

Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the rheolytic effects of stenting a mid-shaft/distal left main coronary artery (LMCA) lesion with and without ostial coverage. Stenting of the LMCA has emerged as a valid alternative in place of traditional coronary bypass graft surgery. However, in case of mid-shaft/distal lesion, there is no consensus regarding the extension of the strut coverage up to the ostium or to stent only the culprit lesion. Methods We reconstructed a left main-left descending coronary artery (LM-LCA)-left circumflex (LCX) bifurcation after analysing 100 consecutive patients (mean age 71.4 ± 9.3, 49 males) with LM mid-shaft/distal disease. The mean diameter of proximal LM, left anterior descending (LAD) and LCX, evaluated with quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) was 4.62 ± 0.86 mm, 3.31 ± 0.92 mm, and 2.74 ± 0.93 mm, respectively. For the stent simulation, a third-generation, everolimus-eluting stent was virtually reconstructed. Results After virtual stenting, the net area averaged wall shear stress (WSS) of the model and the WSS at the LCA-LCX bifurcation resulted higher when the stent covered the culprit mid-shaft lesion only compared with the extension of the stent covering the ostium (3.68 versus 2.06 Pa, p = 0.01 and 3.97 versus 1.98 Pa, p < 0.001, respectively. Similarly, the static pressure and the Reynolds number were significantly higher after stent implantation covering up the ostium. At the ostium, the flow resulted more laminar when stenting only the mid-shaft lesion than including the ostium. Conclusions Although these findings cannot be translated directly into real practice our brief study suggests that stenting lesion 1:1 or extending the stent to cover the LM ostium impacts differently the rheolytic properties of LMCA bifurcation with potential insights for restenosis or thrombosis.

Oral or Topical 5-ASA in Ulcerative Colitis

Aminosalicylates (5-ASAs) are foundational therapies for patients with mild-moderate active ulcerative colitis (UC) and to maintain remissions. A variety of oral and topical formulations have been evaluated in both active and quiescent disease in both extensive and distal UC. This review summarizes data on pharmacokinetics and applications of oral and topical 5-ASA therapies in active and quiescent, extensive colitis and distal disease, both as monotherapies and in combination and reviews dosing and dosing intervals for oral 5-ASA in both active disease and to maintain remissions.

Embolic Stroke and Pulseless Right Arm in a Schoolgirl with Arterial Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: A Case Report

A rare clinical presentation arterial Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is described in a young school-girl. TOS causing distal; disease is a rare cause of artery to- artery embolic stroke. Brain-stem ischemic stroke is a result of compromise to the posterior circulation. This is often due to antegrade embolism from the heart or proximal vessels. Retrograde blood flow has been described in the subclavian artery, thus making the distal subclavian artery a source of possible retrograde embolism to carotid circulation1. Clinical presentation also included left hemiparesis caused by right subclavian artery thrombosis and retrograde embolizatoin of thrombus via common carotid artery to the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) distribution.Bangladesh Journal of Neuroscience 2012; Vol. 28 (1): 63-66