Evaluation of Serum Cortisol Levels and Response to Cosyntropin Test in Methadone-treated Opium Addicts

Background

Opium has been used for thousands of years for medical and analgesic purposes, and its misuse has also increased in recent years. Methadone, a synthetic opioid, has been used as an analgesic and to help patients quit opium addiction. However, some evidence suggests that long-term use of opioids can affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the serum cortisol level and response to the cosyntropin stimulation test in opium addicts on methadone treatment.

Methods

The study was conducted in November 2019 at Imam Reza Hospital Rehab Center, Birjand, Iran. Thirty-eight methadone-treated opium addicts participated in the study. A blood sample was initially obtained, then 250 µg intramuscular cosyntropin was injected. After 30 and 60 minutes, two other blood samples were obtained. The data were analyzed using SPSS.

Results

There was a significant difference between serum cortisol levels and the normal value in methadone users (9.46 ± 5.42 vs. 14 µg/dL) (P < 0.001). The mean response to the cosyntropin stimulation test in methadone users was 9.34 ± 8.11 µg/dL. Also, 55% of the participants had adrenal insufficiency.

Conclusions

Serum cortisol levels significantly differed from normal values in methadone-treated patients. Therefore, we recommend measuring serum cortisol levels in methadone-treated patients before major medical procedures to consider the stress doses of corticosteroids.

A rare case of patent ductus arteriosus diagnosed during coronary artery bypass grafting operation in a 73-year-old man

BACKGROUND

Although patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is more prevalent among infants and children, it might be seen among adults as well. It is not usually seen among adults, since it is often diagnosed and treated in childhood.

CASE REPORT

In the present case, a 73-year-old man referred to the hospital with symptoms including dyspnea, cold sweating, and chest pain with a burning nature which was lasting for 30 minutes. Angiography revealed coronary artery obstruction, so he became a coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) candidate. Except for dilatation of the left atrium, no specific findings were reported in the patient's echocardiography report. When the pump was turned off by the surgeon, the patient's heart filled up and he was not able to get off the pump. Simultaneously, the patient started to have bloody respiratory secretions. With all that in mind, the surgeon suspected that he might suffer from a PDA, then he found an 8-mm PDA and closed it. Then, the patient was taken off the cardiorespiratory pump.

CONCLUSION

Although PDA is more common among children and infants, it can be found among adults according to previous cases and our case as well. Since patients with PDA refer to physicians for other clinical issues, it is recommended to apply more precision in diagnostic methods such as taking a good history, echocardiography, and electrocardiogram (ECG). Moreover, it is recommended that if a patient has conditions similar to our patient, the surgeon must be sure of a possible PDA.

Factors Affecting In-stent Restenosis in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Angioplasty

Percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PCI) and stent implantation are the most common therapeutic strategies for coronary artery stenosis; however, in-stent restenosis (ISR) is one of its important challenges. Although in some studies, coronary artery disease (CAD) factors are deemed to be the causes of ISR, in some others, the relationship between CAD factors and ISR are not observed. Over the past ten years, there has been no review article on factors affecting the ISR. This article aimed to review the possible factors affecting ISR in patients undergoing PCI. This narrative review study was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases between 1 January 1990 and 30 July 2017. After initial screening of 1728 retrieved articles, 1401 articles were excluded to due irrelevancy to the review; and finally, 39 papers were selected for data collection. Our study results showed that the site and length of implanted stent, hypertension and diabetes are the most probable factors affecting ISR. Further studies are required for evaluation of the effect of other possible risk factors such as genetic sequencing, obesity, chronic infections and hemoglobin A1C levels.

Comparing the effect of preoperative administration of methylprednisolone and its administration before and during surgery on the clinical outcome in pediatric open heart surgeries

Background

Cardiac surgery under Cardiopulmonary bypass causes a systemic inflammatory response with a multifactorial etiology including direct tissue damage, ischemia and stimulation of immune system induced by cardiopulmonary bypass. This study was designed due to the high prevalence and complications of this stimulated immune system in mortality, morbidity, length of ICU stay, and mechanical ventilation.

Objectives

This study was aimed to compare preoperative and intraoperative methylprednisolone (MP) to intraoperative MP alone with respect to postbypass inflammation and clinical outcome.

Patients and Methods

Sixty pediatric patients (age < 5years) undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery between September 2011-2012 at Imam Reza hospital-Mashhad were randomly assigned to receive preoperative and intraoperative MP (group 1: 30 mg/kg, 4 hours before bypass and in bypass prime, n = 30) or intraoperative MP only (group 2: 30 mg/kg, n = 30). Postoperative temperature (peak temperature and average temperature during the first 24 hours), amount of inotropic, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay, WBC, BUN, creatinine, and CRP were recorded and compared in both groups. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 13 by T-test, Mann-Whitney test if necessary, and Chi-squared distribution.

Results

Patient characteristics including age, weight, gender, and duration of bypass were almost similar in both groups (P > 0.05). No significant difference in amount of inotropic medications used for hemodynamic supports, duration of mechanical ventilation, peak and average temperature and length of ICU stay was observed. Among the laboratory tests (WBC, BUN, creatinine, CRP) only WBC counts raised more in group 2 when compared to group 1(P < 0.05).

Conclusions

There was no difference in clinical outcome after cardiac surgery when we administered an additional dose of methylprednisolone compared to a single dose of methylprednisolone.