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Study objective: The objective of the trial was to examine whether ramipril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), improves walking distance and health-related quality of life in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) associated with claudication. Study population: The study enrolled 212 patients with risk factors and symptoms of PAD treated by conventional therapies at three centers in Australia. All patients had an ankle–brachial index (ABI) of less than 0.90 at rest and intermittent claudication in at least one leg, which were stable for at least 6 preceding months along with the medication regimen. The patients were excluded if blood pressure was not controlled (brachial blood pressure of 160/100 mmHg or greater); if there was current or recent use of either ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers, potassium-sparing diuretics, or potassium supplements; renal failure (serum creatinine level 2.3 mg/dL or greater [200 µmol/L]); renal artery stenosis; previous coronary or peripheral artery revascularizations, recent myocardial infarction and other health conditions other than PAD that could adversely influence walking ability at the time of screening and for 1 year thereafter. Design and methods: This was a randomized, placebo-controlled, triple blinded study of ramipril at the high daily dose (10 mg) for 6 months. Primary outcomes were pain-free and maximum walking times assessed by a standard treadmill exercise test. Secondary outcomes were ABI changes; symptoms and functional status assessed by the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ) 1 ; health-related quality of life assessed by the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) 2 ; and stenosis severity assessed by duplex ultrasound of the lower limb arteries. At baseline and at follow-up, pain-free and maximum walking distances were assessed by the standard constant load treadmill exercise test performed at a speed of 3.2 km/h and a grade of 12%. 3 ABI was calculated in both legs. Duplex ultrasonography was used to determine stenosis in lower-limb vessel segments. Functional changes per WIQ, and perceived disability assessed on the Physical Component Summary and the Mental Component Summary of the SF-36 were self-reported. Sample size was calculated as 100 patients per each group needed to provide a power of 80% at an α of 0.05 to detect a 120-second change in walking time and a 65-second change in pain-free walking time. A two-sided p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Baseline variables were compared using the χ 2 test and one-way analysis of variance. The analysis of covariance model with baseline and post-treatment values after 6 months used Kruskal–Wallis analysis of variance. Imputations for missing 6-month data were performed. Data were analyzed on the intention-to-treat basis. Results: Of 921 potential participants screened, 212 eligible participants were randomized into equal-sized ramipril and placebo groups where baseline parameters were not different. Compliance was monitored by pill count and adverse effects were monitored through interval clinical assessments, laboratory tests, and telephone calls. There was a 100% adherence rate to the study medications among 200 patients who completed the study. Ramipril was associated with a 75-second increase in mean pain-free and a 255-second increase in maximum walking time. There was a modest (less than 5 mmHg) blood pressure reduction and a small (0.1) ABI increase at rest and after exercise compared to placebo. The maximum walking time increase after ramipril therapy compared to placebo was greater in the subgroup of patients with femoropopliteal disease (286 seconds) than in those with aortoiliac disease (127 seconds). Patients treated with ramipril showed improvement of the median distance, speed and stair climbing scores on the WIQ, as well as of the Physical, but not the Mental, Component Summary score on the SF-36. The most frequent side effect was dizziness, more common in the ramipril (8.5%) than in the placebo (2.8%) group. Persistent cough occurred in 6.6% of patients on ramipril, causing their withdrawal from the study.

Introduction. While patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) have high cardiovascular event rates, preoperative risk stratification may not necessarily predict those susceptible patients. Troponin T (TnT) may help predict patients at risk for cardiovascular complications.Methods. Consecutive patients undergoing OLT at Mayo Clinic in Florida between 1998 and 2010 who had TnT obtained within 10 days following surgery were included. Three groups were compared based on TnT level: (1) normal (TnT≤0.01 ng/mL), (2) intermediate (TnT 0.02–0.11 ng/mL), and (3) elevated (TnT>0.11 ng/mL). Overall and cardiovascular mortality was assessed.Results. Of the 78 patients included, there was no difference in age, gender, severity of liver disease, and echocardiographic findings. Patients in the normal and intermediate TnT groups had a lower overall mortality rate (14.3% and 0%, resp.) when compared with those with elevated TnT (50%;P=0.001). Patients in the elevated TnT group had a cardiovascular mortality rate of 37.5% compared with 1.4% in the other groups combined (P<0.01). The elevated TnT group had a much higher mortality rate when compared with those in the intermediate group (P<0.0001).Conclusion. TnT may accurately help risk stratify patients in the early postoperative setting to better predict cardiovascular complications.

Background and Aims . EUS-FNA is an accurate and safe technique to biopsy mediastinal lymph nodes. However, there are few data pertaining to the role of EUS-FNA to biopsy central lung masses. The aim of the study was to assess the diagnostic yield and safety of EUS-FNA of indeterminate central mediastinal lung masses. Methods . Design: Retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database; noncomparative. Setting: Tertiary referral center. From 10/2004 to 12/2010, all patients with a lung mass located within proximity to the esophagus were referred for EUS-FNA. Main Outcome Measurement: EUS-FNA diagnostic accuracy and safety. Results . 73 consecutive patients were included. EUS allowed detection in 62 (85%) patients with lack of visualization prohibiting FNA in 11 patients. Among sampled lesions, one patient (1/62 = 1.6%) had a benign lung mass (hamartoma), while the remaining 61 patients (61/62 = 98.4%) had a malignant mass (primary lung cancer: 55/61 = 90%; lung metastasis: 6/61 = 10%). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of EUS-FNA were 96.7%, 100%, and 96.7%, respectively. The sensitivity was 80.8% when considering nonvisualized masses. One patient developed a pneumothorax (1/62 = 1.6%). Conclusions . EUS-FNA appears to be an accurate and safe technique for tissue diagnosis of central mediastinal lung masses.

Background Screening individuals at increased risk for pancreatic cancer (PC) detects early, potentially curable, pancreatic neoplasia. Objective To develop consortium statements on screening, surveillance and management of high-risk individuals with an inherited predisposition to PC. Methods A 49-expert multidisciplinary international consortium met to discuss pancreatic screening and vote on statements. Consensus was considered reached if ≥75% agreed or disagreed. Results There was excellent agreement that, to be successful, a screening programme should detect and treat T1N0M0 margin-negative PC and high-grade dysplastic precursor lesions (pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm). It was agreed that the following were candidates for screening: first-degree relatives (FDRs) of patients with PC from a familial PC kindred with at least two affected FDRs; patients with Peutz–Jeghers syndrome; and p16 , BRCA 2 and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) mutation carriers with ≥1 affected FDR. Consensus was not reached for the age to initiate screening or stop surveillance. It was agreed that initial screening should include endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and/or MRI/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography not CT or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. There was no consensus on the need for EUS fine-needle aspiration to evaluate cysts. There was disagreement on optimal screening modalities and intervals for follow-up imaging. When surgery is recommended it should be performed at a high-volume centre. There was great disagreement as to which screening abnormalities were of sufficient concern to for surgery to be recommended. Conclusions Screening is recommended for high-risk individuals, but more evidence is needed, particularly for how to manage patients with detected lesions. Screening and subsequent management should take place at high-volume centres with multidisciplinary teams, preferably within research protocols.