PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Hien Nguyen

Publications and source records attributed to Hien Nguyen.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Lipoprotein effects of combined ezetimibe and colesevelam hydrochloride versus ezetimibe alone in hypercholesterolemic subjects: a pilot study.

Two drug classes act in the intestine to lower cholesterol. Ezetimibe inhibits cholesterol absorption, whereas bile acid-binding resins enhance cholesterol excretion via enhanced conversion to bile acids. Combining these 2 classes may be beneficial, but cholestyramine binds ezetimibe, and the combined effect of colesevelam hydrochloride and ezetimibe was little studied. The aim of the study was to determine if adding colesevelam HCl to ezetimibe provides additional lowering of low-density lipoprotein- and apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins or alters ezetimibe levels. Twenty subjects with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels of 130 mg/dL or higher were enrolled and taught a National Cholesterol Education Program Step I diet. At a second baseline visit, lipoproteins were measured and subjects were randomly allocated to (1) ezetimibe 10 mg daily with placebo colesevelam HCl twice daily (E) or (2) ezetimibe 10 mg daily with 1.875 g colesevelam HCl twice daily (E + C). Lipoproteins were measured 6 and 12 weeks after initiating treatment. Baseline characteristics (mean +/- SD) were statistically indistinguishable in E vs E + C: LDL-C (mg/dL), 167 +/- 26 and 158 +/- 27; triglyceride, 134 +/- 75 and 140 +/- 67; and BMI, 29.4 +/- 4.9 and 27.8 +/- 6.6 kg/m(2), respectively. Percent changes after 12 weeks in E vs E + C were as follows: LDL-C, -24 +/- 12 vs -30 +/- 11 (P = .102); triglyceride, -19 +/- 34 vs 36 +/- 85 (P = .054; at 6 weeks, P = .009); total cholesterol, -19 +/- 9 vs -15 +/- 8 (P = .50); non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, -25 +/- 10 vs -21 +/- 11 (P = .70); apolipoprotein B, -31 +/- 14 vs -22 +/- 14 (P = .41). Plasma ezetimibe levels at 12 weeks were 21% lower in E + C vs E, a nonsignificant difference (P = .54). In conclusion, in the short term, colesevelam HCl may not consistently add cholesterol-lowering benefit to ezetimibe. This observation requires confirmation.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Is definitive abdominal evaluation required in blunt trauma victims undergoing urgent extra-abdominal surgery?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the utility of routine abdominal computed tomographic (CT) scanning for abdominal evaluation of blunt trauma patients before urgent extra-abdominal surgery. METHODS: In this observational cohort study, we prospectively enrolled all blunt trauma patients at least 8 years of age presenting to the emergency department of a Level 1 trauma center who were initially considered to require urgent extra-abdominal surgery within 24 hours of presentation. Patients were excluded if they had any of the following: 1) isolated extremity trauma, 2) signs or symptoms of intra-abdominal injury (including systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg; abdominal, flank, or costal margin tenderness; abdominal wall contusion or abrasion; pelvic fracture; and gross hematuria), or 3) unreliable findings on abdominal examination (Glasgow Coma Scale score < 14, paralysis, or mental retardation). Clinical data were documented on a data sheet before abdominal CT scanning. RESULTS: A total of 254 patients, with a mean (+/-SD) age of 32.3 (+/-16.1) years, were enrolled. A total of 201 patients ultimately underwent urgent extra-abdominal surgery for the following procedures: orthopedic, 182 (91%); facial, 17 (8%); laceration, 7 (3%); vascular, 6 (2%); neurosurgical, 3 (1%); urology, 2 (1%); and ophthalmology, 1 (0.4%). Three patients (1.2%; 95% confidence interval = 0.2% to 3.4%) were found to have intra-abdominal injuries. Two patients had splenic injuries that required only observation. One patient (0.4%; 95% confidence interval = 0% to 2.2%) underwent laparotomy. This patient sustained multiple injuries in a motorcycle crash, including splenic, kidney, and pancreatic injuries, and underwent a splenectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal CT scanning has a low yield in trauma patients whose sole indication for diagnostic abdominal evaluation is the need for general anesthesia for urgent extra-abdominal surgery. A small percentage of these patients, however, will have important intra-abdominal injuries such that further refinement of the recommendations for diagnostic study in this select population is needed.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed2004

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction as a presenting manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus: case report and review of the literature.

A case of intestinal pseudo-obstruction as a presenting manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus is presented. Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease with a wide spectrum of unpredictable multisystemic presentations. A case of systemic lupus erythematosus that was diagnosed in a patient whose initial presentation for the disease was acute renal failure, hydronephrosis, intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and false-positive syphilis serologies is presented. There have been 18 other cases of intestinal pseudo-obstruction associated with systemic lupus erythematosus to date in the English literature. A variety of gastrointestinal syndromes have been increasingly recognized as possible manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus, and this case illustrates in particular that intestinal pseudo-obstruction may be a presenting manifestation of this disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis, ascites, and pancreatitis: a case report and review of the literature.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is an inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract in which eosinophilic infiltration occurs in the gut layers. A case of subserosal eosinophilic gastroenteritis was diagnosed in a patient with abdominal pain, eosinophilic ascites, and pancreatitis. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of eosinophilic gastroenteritis associated with concurrent eosinophilic ascites and pancreatitis.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Heart transplantation: echocardiographic assessment of morphology and function after more than 10 years of follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Over recent years, heart transplantation (HTX) developed into a successful option for long-term treatment of end-stage heart failure. Ten-year survival ranges between 40% and 50%. Little is known, however, about function and morphology of transplanted hearts during follow-up of more than 10 years. METHODS: In a consecutive cohort of 65 patients (55 male, 54.6 +/- 12.1 years at the time of transplantation), graft function was assessed by color Doppler echocardiography 12.5 +/- 1.4 years after heart transplantation (10 to 15 years). RESULTS: Left atrial and ventricular dimensions were found in a normal range (LA 37.7 +/- 8.9 mm, LV enddiastolic 45.6 +/- 6.4 mm, 30 to 71 mm). Ejection fraction (EF) of 71 +/- 11.7% and a fractional shortening of 35.3 +/- 10.3% presented with normal values. Left ventricular mass (male 263.8 +/- 111.4 g, female 373.0 +/- 181.1 g) was slightly increased resulting in mild hypertrophy in women. Focused on right ventricular morphology, enlargement of both the right atrium and the right ventricle (RA 40.7 +/- 11.8 mm, RV 37.4 +/- 8.3 mm) was observed in the majority of the patients. Tricuspid valve insufficiency (> grade II) was present in 46 of 65 patients; 5 patients had previously undergone tricuspid valve replacement. Atrial filling waves were detectable in only 47 of 65 patients, thus, 28% of patients showed signs of LA-dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: More than 10 years post-HTX, cardiac grafts were characterized by normal left ventricular dimensions and ejection fraction. LA-dysfunction and RV-enlargement associated with tricuspid insufficiency were frequent findings, however, not associated with clinical signs of congestive heart failure in the majority of patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Churg-Strauss syndrome associated with HIV infection.

A 28-year-old woman with a history of asthma and recent deep venous thrombosis presented with fever, chest pain, and peripheral eosinophilia. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with Churg-Strauss syndrome and HIV infection, representing to our knowledge only the second case of this association. Rheumatologic manifestations of HIV may precede clinical signs of infection. This is significant because steroidal and cytotoxic therapy may potentially worsen HIV infection. As the prevalence of HIV infection rises, there may be atypical presentations of various rheumatologic syndromes. The following case demonstrates a patient whose initial presentation for HIV infection was Churg-Strauss syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Controlled trials of very high dose folic acid, vitamins B12 and B6, intravenous folinic acid and serine for treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia in ESRD.

BACKGROUND: Hyperhomocysteinemia is seen in most hemodialysis (HD) patients and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Homocysteine metabolism via remethylation requires activated folate and vitamin B12 and metabolism via transsulfuration requires serine and vitamin B6. Prior studies have shown highly variable effects of supplemental B vitamin and folate therapy for hyperhomocysteinemia. We undertook a fully controlled trial with abnormally high doses of folic acid alone or with supplemental vitamin B6 and B12 compared with active folate alone or with serine. METHODS: Two prospective studies were undertaken in hemodialysis patients. In the first study (protocol A), hyperhomocysteinemia was treated in 77 patients with 30 or 60 mg folic acid with or without vitamins B6 and B12 for eight weeks and compared with matching placebos. In the second study (protocol B), hyperhomocysteinemia was treated in 37 patients with intravenous folinic acid given alone or with serine and compared with matching placebos. All patients received the standard of care treatment with a multivitamin tablet before and throughout the protocol to test the hypothesis that additional therapy is required over and above the routine therapy for maximum reduction in total homocysteine (tHcy). RESULTS: Normal volunteers; The mean (SD) tHcy of 128 normal subjects was 6.5 (4) micromol/L. Protocol A; Plasma folate increased significantly in the groups given folic acid at both four and eight weeks (P = 0.0001 at both time points). Plasma vitamin B12 was significantly increased at four weeks (P = 0.0018) but not at eight weeks (P = 0.064) in those given Vitamin B12. However, tHcy did not differ between treatment groups at baseline (P = 0.63), four weeks (P = 0.79) or eight weeks (P = 0.74). Protocol B: Plasma folate increased significantly at four weeks in those receiving folinic acid (P = 0.0001) but tHcy was not significantly different between groups (P = 0.92). In neither study was there any significant change in tHcy comparing before and during any treatment intervention. CONCLUSIONS: In our studies high dose oral folic acid, intravenous folinic acid, vitamins B6 and B12 and oral serine were ineffective at lowering tHcy in patients on hemodialysis when given folic acid, folinic acid serine or B vitamins in addition to routine folic acid and B vitamin supplements.

Administration, Oral↗