Minimally Invasive Extracorporeal Bypass in Minimally Invasive Heart Valve Operations: A Prospective Randomized Trial.

Background: Minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation (MECC) is predominantly used in coronary operations. Data supporting the benefits of MECC in minimally invasive valve operations are still absent.

Methods: Patients undergoing either isolated minimally invasive mitral or aortic valve procedures were prospectively randomized to a minimally invasive group (MECC; n = 101) or a conventional extracorporeal circulation group (CECC; n = 99).

Acetylcholine-induced coronary spasm in patients with unobstructed coronary arteries is associated with elevated concentrations of soluble CD40 ligand and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.

Objectives: To assess whether epicardial and microvascular coronary artery spasm in response to acetylcholine (ACH) is associated with markers of inflammation, platelet stimulation, and endothelial activation in patients with angina and unobstructed coronary arteries.

Background: Patients with angina pectoris despite angiographically normal coronary arteries represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Both impaired coronary microvascular dilatory responses as well as diffuse distal epicardial and microvascular coronary artery spasm have been described as possible pathogenic mechanisms.

Severe hyperphosphatemia in a patient with chronic kidney disease and multiple myeloma-to strengthen the case toward renal replacement therapy?

We report a patient with multiple myeloma and chronic kidney disease who presented with severe hyperphosphatemia in the outpatient clinic without any related symptoms. Initial differential diagnosis: Tumor lysis syndrome or chronic kidney disease. Further work-up revealed pseudohyperphosphatemia.

Caucasian patients suffering from coronary vasospastic angina have an intact peripheral endothelium-dependent vasoreactivity.

We sought to evaluate whether Caucasian patients suffering from vasospastic angina have a decreased brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) like their Japanese counterparts and whether certain serum factors known to be associated with impaired vasomotility or endothelial dysfunction are abnormal. In this prospectively conducted study, 33 subjects presenting with resting angina were identified to suffer from coronary vasospastic angina (coronary spasm group). A control group of 19 subjects with matched cardiovascular risk profiles was defined out of patients admitted to our hospital for evaluation of atypical chest pain.