Caseous mitral annulus calcification: A forgotten benign condition mimicking cardiac mass, a case report.

Key Clinical Message: Caseous mitral annulus calcification is a rare benign condition that can be misdiagnosed on echocardiography especially when it presents as a mass. This report highlights the contribution of cardiac MRI and computed tomography to the diagnosis through the case of a patient previously treated for breast cancer.

Abstract: We report the case of a patient, previously treated for breast cancer, in whom echocardiography suggested the diagnosis of a cardiac tumor due the presence of a mass on the posterior mitral annulus.

The impact of root exudates on NRRL B-16219 exoproteome.

Root exudates from host plant species are known to play a critical role in the establishment and maintenance of symbiotic relationships with soil bacteria. In this study, we investigated the impact of root exudates from compatible host plant species; on the exoproteome of strain NRRL B-16219. A total of 565 proteins were evidenced as differentially abundant, with 32 upregulated and 533 downregulated in presence of the plant exudates.

sp. nov., a member of the isolated from sandstone collected from the Sahara Desert in Tunisia.

The taxonomic position of strain BMG 8361, isolated from sandstone collected in the Sahara Desert of Southern Tunisia, was refined through a polyphasic taxonomic investigation. Colonies of BMG 8361 were pale-orange coloured, irregular with a dry surface and produced a diffusible pink or brown pigment depending on media. The Gram-positive cells were catalase-positive and oxidase-negative.

sp. nov., isolated from a monument sampled in Carthage, Tunisia.

A comprehensive polyphasic investigation was conducted to elucidate the taxonomic position of an actinobacterium, designated BMG 814, which was isolated from the historic ruins of Carthage city in Tunisia. It grew as pink-orange pigmented colonies and displayed versatile growth capabilities, thriving within a temperature range of 20-40 °C, across a pH spectrum ranging from pH 5.5 to 10 and in the presence of up to 4 % NaCl.

Usefulness of cardiac computed tomography in prosthetic heart valve dysfunction.

Background: Prosthetic heart valve (PHV) dysfunction is a serious complication. Echocardiography remains the first-line imaging investigation to assess PHV dysfunction. However, the role of Computed Tomography (CT) scanning in this type of case has not been thoroughly studied yet.

Current and new imaging techniques in risk stratification of asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis.

Aortic stenosis (AS) is one of the most common valvular diseases in clinical practice. The prevalence of calcified AS with moderate or severe stenosis exceeds 2% after 75 years. The optimal timing of intervention for asymptomatic severe AS is uncertain and controversial.

Risk stratification for sudden cardiac death in patients with heart failure : Emerging role of imaging parameters.

Background: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is a common condition that has a poor prognosis. Accurate selection of patients with ischemic heart disease and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, who are at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD), remains a challenge. In these cases, current indications for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) rely almost entirely on left ventricular ejection fraction.

Coronary PCI revascularization novel treatment of bundle branch reentrant ventricular tachycardia.

Bundle branch reentrant ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a form of macroreentrant tachycardia. Although infrequent in occurrence, this arrhythmia presents with serious clinical manifestations and has potential for cure by catheter ablation. We report a case of bundle branch reentrant VT with ischemic source.

Spectrum of Mutations in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Genes Among Tunisian Patients.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common cardiac genetic disorder associated with heart failure and sudden death. Mutations in the cardiac sarcomere genes are found in approximately half of HCM patients and are more common among cases with a family history of the disease. Data about the mutational spectrum of the sarcomeric genes in HCM patients from Northern Africa are limited.

[Evaluation of left ventricular function by systolic time intervals].

Background: Evaluation of left ventricular systolic function, usually based on the assessment of the ejection fraction, is increasingly supplemented by other more sophisticated techniques such as 3D echocardiography and speckle tracking. However these methods require a high technicity and a good echogenicity. As heart failure leads to lengthening of aortic pre-ejectional time (PET) and shortening of left ventricular ejection time (ET), systolic time intervals (STI) were proposed for the evaluation of systolic myocardial performance.

Cardiac hydatid cyst revealed by ventricular tachycardia.

Hydatid disease is a human parasitic infestation caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus Granulosus. The liver and the lungs are the most common locations. Cardiac involvement is rare and accounts for 0.

[Biventricular resynchronization in the management of severe cardiac insufficiency].

Heart failure is a major problem of public health, it represents a frequent status among patients with heart disease, and its implications in term of mortality and cost are high. Non Pharmacological treatment of heart failure most commonly designed as cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has demonstrate efficacy to improve functional class, exertion capacity, left ventricular ejection fraction, reduction of mitral regurgitation, and probably mortality at midterm. The most recent studies emphasize on the role of implantable cardioverter defibrillate or (ICD) combined with CRT to reduce mortality.

[Prognostic value of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in assessing intrahospital outcome of unstable angina].

Inflammation has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of unstable angina. CRP has been demonstrated to be a reliable marker of prognosis is unstable angina. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of CRP in assessing short outcome of unstable angina.