Current State of Platelet-rich Plasma in the Treatment of Rheumatic Disease: A Retrospective Review of the Literature.

Introduction: Rheumatic diseases are a spectrum of autoimmune or inflammatory diseases that cause damage to the musculoskeletal system as well as vital organs, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, and central nervous system.

Methods: The study of rheumatic disease has made great progress in the understanding and management of these conditions in the last few decades using disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and synthesized biological immunomodulating therapies. However, one potential treatment that has not been well investigated in rheumatic disease is platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

Parachute mitral valve.

An asymptomatic 30-year-old male was referred for a transthoracic echocardiogram because of a systolic murmur that was noted on a pre-employment physical exam. Transthoracic imaging demonstrated a single papillary muscle from which the chordae of both mitral valve leaflets were attached. The mitral valve was seen to have a parachute-like configuration.

The Role of False Tendons in Left Ventricular Remodeling and Secondary Mitral Regurgitation After Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Left ventricular false tendons (LVFT) are common structures visualized on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). The present study tested the hypothesis that LVFT, via a possible 'constraint' mechanism, attenuate left ventricular (LV) remodeling and secondary mitral regurgitation after acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: Seventy-one patients admitted to the Coronary Care Unit following an ST-elevation (n = 63) or non-ST-elevation (n = 8) myocardial infarction were analyzed; 29 (41%) had LVFT, and 42 (59%) did not (no-LVFT).

Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction due to a leiomyosarcoma.

A 65-year-old female presenting with worsening dyspnea and notable weight loss were found to have a systolic murmur on physical examination. On workup with computed tomography (CT) angiogram, a solid mass was found extending from the inferior vena cava into the right ventricle. Transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated this mass extension causing right ventricular outflow tract obstruction.

The Cardiovascular effects of chocolate.

The antioxidants as polyphenols, especially flavanols present in cocoa, exert a favorable effect on endothelium vasodilation, modulate inflammatory markers, and decrease platelet aggregation, lipid oxidation and insulin resistance. Recent nutritional intervention trials and molecular studies demonstrate that consumption of cocoa, particularly rich in flavanols, is beneficial to promote cardiovascular health. This review describes the cardiovascular effects of chocolate.