Acute myocarditis secondary to enteritis: A case report.

Unlabelled: Acute myocarditis is a rare complication of enteritis. Herein, we report the case of a 20-year-old man who presented with chest pain that developed three days after the onset of enteritis. Electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and cardiac enzyme levels suggested myocarditis.

Clonal diversity of Clostridium perfringens human clinical isolates with various toxin gene profiles based on multilocus sequence typing and alpha-toxin (PLC) typing.

Objectives: Clostridium perfringens is a common anaerobic pathogen causing enteritis/enterocolitis and wound infections in humans. We analyzed clonal diversity and toxin gene prevalence in C. perfringens clinical isolates from humans in northern Japan.

Impact of bisoprolol transdermal patch on early recurrence during the blanking period after atrial fibrillation ablation.

Background: Early recurrences of atrial arrhythmias (ERAAs) after ablation may require therapeutic intervention. The optimal medical therapy that prevents ERAAs requires clarification. This study aimed to compare the incidence of ERAAs between patients who received or did not receive bisoprolol transdermal patches (BTPs) at 3 months postablation.

A left ventricular lead implantation at the latest site based on four-dimensional computed tomography: a case report.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) could be an effective therapy for patients suffering from severe heart failure (HF) despite optimal medical therapy. However, it has been reported that about 30% of patients receive ineffective results even if CRT has been performed. In a recent study, four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) was shown to be useful for pre-operative planning in transcatheter aortic valve intervention.

Presence of periaortic gas in Clostridium septicum-infected aortic aneurysm aids in early diagnosis: a case report and systematic review of the literature.

Background: Clostridium septicum-infected aortic aneurysm is a fatal and rare disease. We present a fatal case of C. septicum-infected aortic aneurysm and a pertinent literature review with treatment suggestions for reducing mortality rates.

Anatomical dilatation of the superior vena cava associated with an arrhythmogenic response induced by SVC scan pacing after atrial fibrillation ablation.

Background: The relationship between pulmonary vein (PV) arrhythmogenicity and its anatomy has been reported. However, that of the superior vena cava (SVC) has not been well discussed. Arrhythmogenic response induced by pacing stimulation at SVC might help with identifying SVC arrhythmogenicity.

Predictors and Clinical Outcomes of Transient Responders to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.

Background: Left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) changes at 6 months and clinical status are useful for assessing responses to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Regression of the LVESV following CRT has not been described beyond 6 months. This study aimed to assess the proportion, predictors, and clinical outcomes of responders whose LVESVs had regressed.

Sporadically occurred bilateral osteochondritis dissecans on the trochlea of the femur: case report.

We report the case of a 13-year-old boy with bilateral osteochondritis dissecans in the lateral femoral trochlea of the knees. They were classified as grade 4 in the right knee and grade 1 in the left knee on the basis of the Nelson classification within 1 year after first consultation. In the right knee, the fragment was surgically fixed, but the left knee healed with conservative treatment.

Severe Disseminated Mycobacterium avium Infection in a Patient with a Positive Serum Autoantibody to Interferon-γ.

We herein report a case of disseminated Mycobacterium avium infection that involved both optic nerves, the conjunctiva, the right lower lung, and multiple skin lesions, including a thoracic nodule. The patient was a 65-year-old man without any significant medical history. The pathogen was detected in the patient's eye discharge, sputum, bronchial lavage fluid, and thoracic nodule.

Characteristics of Residual Atrial Posterior Wall and Roof-Dependent Atrial Tachycardias after Pulmonary Vein Isolation.

Background: Roof-dependent atrial tachycardia (roof AT) sometimes occurs after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) of atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the anatomy of the residual left atrial posterior wall and occurrence of roof AT.

Methods: A total of 265 patients with AF who underwent PVI were enrolled.

Eccentric scar formation around a pulmonary vein after cryo-balloon ablation in a patient with atrial fibrillation: A case report.

The impact of a cryoballoon ablation is reported to be similar to that of a radiofrequency (RF) ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation. Delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) could visualize the scar region induced by the cryoballoon ablation as well as RF ablation. Cryoballoon ablation could induce extensive scar lesions around the PVs.

Circulating intermediate CD14++CD16+monocytes are increased in patients with atrial fibrillation and reflect the functional remodelling of the left atrium.

Aims: A recent large clinical study demonstrated the association between intermediate CD14++CD16+monocytes and cardiovascular events. However, whether that monocyte subset contributes to the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been clarified. We compared the circulating monocyte subsets in AF patients and healthy people, and investigated the possible role of intermediate CD14++CD16+monocytes in the pathophysiology of AF.

The effectiveness of cardiac resynchronization therapy for patients with New York Heart Association class IV non-ambulatory heart failure.

Background: We reviewed the effectiveness and safety of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) for patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV non-ambulatory heart failure (NAHF).

Methods: From 2006 to 2011, 310 patients underwent CRT at Kobe University Hospital and Himeji Cardiovascular Center because of heart failure. Of these, 29 NAHF patients were retrospectively analyzed.

Prophylactic catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia before cardioverter-defibrillator implantation in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy: Clinical outcomes after a single endocardial ablation.

Background: Outcomes related to prophylactic catheter ablation (PCA) for ventricular tachycardia (VT) before implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) are not well characterized. We assessed the efficacy of single endocardial PCA in NICM patients.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 101 consecutive NICM patients with sustained VT.

The Relationship Between Cardiac Vulnerability and Restitution Properties of the Ventricular Activation Recovery Interval.

Introduction: The restitution of the action potential duration (APD) is an important contributor to ventricular fibrillation (VF) initiation by a single critically timed ectopic beat. We hypothesized that a steep slope of the activation recovery interval restitution curve was related to the upper limit of vulnerability (ULV).

Methods And Results: Fifty-four consecutive patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) implanted between April 2012 and July 2013 were included.

Reduction in coronary microvascular resistance through cardiac resynchronization and its impact on chronic reverse remodelling of left ventricle in patients with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy.

Aims: Left bundle branch block (LBBB) induces mechanical dyssynchrony, thereby compromising the coronary circulation in non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy. We sought to examine the effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on coronary flow dynamics and left ventricular (LV) function.

Methods And Results: Twenty-two patients with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy (New York Heart Association class, III or IV; LV ejection fraction, ≤35%; QRS duration, ≥130 ms) were enrolled.

Crista Terminalis as the Anterior Pathway of Typical Atrial Flutter: Insights from Entrainment Map with 3D Intracardiac Ultrasound.

Background: The precise location of truly active reentry circuits of typical atrial flutter (AFL) has not been well identified. The purpose of this study was to verify our hypothesis that the posterior block line is located along the posteromedial right atrium (PMRA) and the crista terminalis (CT) is the anterior pathway of AFL, with real-time intracardiac echo (ICE).

Methods: The entire right atrium (RA) three-dimensional activation and entrainment mapping were evaluated during AFL in 18 patients using CARTO sound.

Visualization of the antegrade fast and slow pathway inputs in patients with slow-fast atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.

Introduction: Mapping of the antegrade fast pathway (A-FP) exact sites and antegrade slow pathway (A-SP) input locations has not been well described.

Methods: In 56 patients with slow-fast atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (SF-AVNRT), pacing during sinus rhythm and entrainment pacing during SF-AVNRT were performed at various sites in the triangle of Koch and coronary sinus (CS) to identify the A-FP and A-SP inputs. User-defined three-dimensional electro-anatomical mapping of the stimulus-His potential (St-H) interval and anatomical location was performed.

Upper limit of vulnerability during defibrillator implantations predicts the occurrence of appropriate shock therapy for ventricular fibrillation.

Background: The utility of the upper limit of vulnerability (ULV) test in patients undergoing defibrillator implantation has been reported, so the purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference in the clinical outcomes between patients with ULV ≤15 J or >15 J.

Methods And Results: A total of 165 patients receiving an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator underwent a vulnerability test. At the time of the implantation, we delivered a 15-J shock on the T-peak and ±20 ms later to cover the most vulnerable part of the cardiac cycle.

Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens-induced bacteremia in a healthy man.

Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens is rarely associated with bacteremia but results in significant mortality. Almost all reported bacteremia cases have occurred in immunocompromised hosts, such as those with alcoholic liver disease, atherosclerosis, recent surgery, malignancies, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. We describe here, to our knowledge, the first clinical evidence for A succiniciproducens bacteremia in a healthy man.

Discrepancy between electrical and mechanical dyssynchrony in patients with heart failure and an electrical disturbance.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves the survival rates of patients with heart failure, but 30-40% of them do not respond to CRT, partially because of the position of the left ventricular (LV) lead. The relationship between the electrical and mechanical activation of the left ventricle is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare the electrical and mechanical dyssynchrony.

Is preoperative period associated with severity and unexpected death of injured patients needing emergency trauma surgery?

Purpose: Early operative control of hemorrhage is the key to saving the lives of severe trauma patients. We investigated whether emergency room (ER) stay time [time from the ER to the operating room (OR)] is associated with trauma severity and unexpected trauma death [Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) method-based probability of survival (Ps) ≥0.5 but died] of injured patients needing emergency trauma surgery.