Luminal pressure gradient and risk of arteriovenous fistula nonmaturation.

While arteriovenous fistula (AVF) nonmaturation is a major issue of hemodialysis care, an effective treatment to improve AVF maturation remains lacking. AVF introduces pulsatile arterial blood flow into its venous limb and produces high luminal pressure gradient, which may have adverse effect on vascular remodeling. As such, the aim of the present study is to investigate effect of luminal pressure gradient on AVF nonmaturation.

Effects of cardiovascular medications on primary patency of hemodialysis arteriovenous fistula.

While the patency of vascular access is essential for hemodialysis patients, optimal pharmaceutical treatment to maintain arteriovenous fistula (AVF) patency remains lacking. As cardiovascular diseases are highly prevalent in patients with end-stage renal disease, various cardiovascular medications have also been used to maintain AVF patency. However, previous studies revealed inconsistent therapeutic effects and a comprehensive evaluation of this issue is needed.

The influence of atrial fibrillation on the mortality of incident ESRD patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is highly prevalent, occurring in 1%-2% of the adult population, increasing the risk of stroke, and resulting in considerable healthcare costs. While stroke is a major complication of AF, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients also have a high risk of stroke, suggesting that AF is a possible risk factor for mortality of ESRD patients. However, whether the existence of AF at the initiation of hemodialysis predicts higher mortality risk of incident ESRD patients remains to be defined.

Study protocol for a prospective observational study to investigate the role of luminal pressure on arteriovenous fistula maturation.

Introduction: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred vascular access for hemodialysis due to its higher patency and lower infection rate. However, its suboptimal maturation rate is a major weakness. Although substantial risk factors for AVF maturation failure have been disclosed, modifiable risk factors remain unknown.

Congenital Anomaly of Single Dominant Right Coronary Artery with Hypoplastic Left Coronary Artery.

Unlabelled: With the popularization of new imaging technology, more people are deciding to undergo non-invasive studies such as multidetector computerized tomography (MDCT) before receiving coronary angiography. For this reason, coronary anomalies of coronary artery are being encountered more frequently. We here report a 68-year-old male presenting with typical angina.

Right Ventricle Mass Induced Coronary Artery Steal Phenomenon: A Rare Clinical Manifestation on One Leiomyosarcoma Patient.

Unlabelled: We report a 43-year-old female with the underlying disease of retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma and initial presentation of ST elevation myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography showed an absence of coronary artery stenosis and a huge, ill-defined cardiac mass which was fed by both the left anterior descending artery and the right coronary artery. Coronary blood flow was obviously shunted by the neovascularized cardiac tumor.

Occurrence of atrioventricular block during supraventricular tachycardia: What is its possible mechanism?

A female patient was admitted to our hospital for catheter ablation arising from paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). In the laboratory, PSVT (the earliest retrograde atrial activation at the coronary sinus ostium) with intermittent atrioventricular (AV) block could be induced repeatedly. The tachycardia could be terminated during ventricular pacing without retrograde conduction to the atria.

Thyroid Storm and Incidental Anterior Mediastinal Teratoma: Coincidence or Correlation?

Unlabelled: Teratoma is a rare cause of thyrotoxicosis. Among the different types of teratoma, struma ovarii is the main type which contains thyroid tissue. There is no evidence in the literature that would indicate mediasternal teratoma would also lead to thyrotoxicosis or thyroid storm.

Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia with QRS Duration Alternans, Electrical Alternans, and Pulsus Alternans but without Cycle Length Alternans.

Unlabelled: We reported a 60-year-old male patient who had a paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia with QRS duration alternans (alternation between narrow QRS and wide QRS beats) and electrical alternans, but without any cycle length alternans. In the laboratory, slow-fast atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia was easily induced by an atrial extrastimulus, and the arterial pressure recordings displayed a simultaneous pulsus alternans during tachycardia. The patient also underwent coronary angiography which revealed a total occlusion of the left anterior descending artery.