Association of infective endocarditis caused by with mycotic aneurysm formation: A case report and the review of the literature.

Unlabelled: A 74-year-old woman with a history of mitral valve prolapse with mitral regurgitation was transferred to our hospital due to infective endocarditis. Blood culture revealed which is known as a nutritional variant streptococcus. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed posterior leaflet (P2) prolapse due to rupture of tendon chordae with severe mitral regurgitation and vegetation on posterior leaflet.

Association of delayed diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension with its prognosis.

Background: Currently, pulmonary hypertension-targeted therapy has been shown to improve the survival of patients with pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). However, the importance of early diagnosis has not been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether a delayed diagnosis of PAH is associated with its prognosis.

A case of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-like morphological changes during recovery.

Few cases of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (APH)-like morphological changes during the recovery process have been reported. A 56-year-old woman diagnosed with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy showed a morphology similar to that of APH during recovery. We examined this patient using 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography based on the method used for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which suggested that the circumferential strain (CS) of the middle wall indicated myocardial function of the left ventricle, and the CS of the inner wall was associated with left ventricular chamber function.

Different characteristics of mitochondrial dynamics-related miRNAs on the hemodynamics of pulmonary artery hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that undergo fission or fusion. These mitochondrial dynamics are reported to be associated with pulmonary hypertension (PH). PH is divided into 5 groups, including pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), based on its pathogenesis.

Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index Is Associated With Prognosis in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension.

The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is a simple tool for assessing nutritional risk that predicts prognosis in patients with heart failure. This study evaluated associations between the GNRI at first hospitalization and prognosis in patients with pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) and those with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). This retrospective investigation included 104 patients with either PAH or CTEPH who were treated at Kagoshima University Hospital in Japan.

The potential for early diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension using lung iodine-123-metaiodobenzylguanidine (I-MIBG) uptake: A case report.

Previous reports have found evidence that the lung uptake of iodine-123-metaiodobenzylguanidine (I-MIBG) represents pulmonary vascular endothelial function. Therefore, it was believed that the reduced lung uptake of I-MIBG in patients with pulmonary artery hypertension may indicate poor pulmonary vascular endothelial function in those patients. In our previous report, we analyzed the lung uptake of I-MIBG in patients with pulmonary hypertension, and demonstrated that it is lower in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) than in those with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and controls, suggesting that reduced uptake of I-MIBG in patients with PAH indicates endothelial dysfunction of the pulmonary artery.

Isolated Distal Deep Vein Thrombus Detected before Orthopedic Surgery: Is Preoperative Anticoagulation Preferable?

: We evaluate the efficacy of anticoagulant administration for isolated distal deep vein thrombus (IDDVT), detected before orthopedic surgery. : The study included 32 patients diagnosed with IDDVT before orthopedic surgery in our hospital between October 2011 and October 2017. They were divided into two groups: the 'pre- and post-operative therapy group,' who were administered anticoagulants both pre- and post-operatively, and the 'post-operative therapy group,' who were administered anticoagulants only after surgery due to risk of bleeding judged by an orthopedic surgeon.

Predictors of exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension in patients with connective tissue disease.

Screening and early detection of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in connective tissue disease (CTD) are currently recommended for early treatment. Exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension (EIPH) is thought to be a potential risk of developing resting pulmonary hypertension. However, accurate diagnosis of EIPH is needed hemodynamics by right heart catheterization during exercise.

Bisoprolol Successfully Improved the Intraventricular Pressure Gradient in a Patient with Midventricular Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy with an Apex Aneurysm due to Apical Myocardial Damage.

Midventricular obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (MVOHCM) is a rare form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). An 80-year-old man was administered bisoprolol and warfarin therapies as treatment for MVOHCM with an apex aneurysm due to myocardial damage and intra-aneurysmal thrombus not complicated by atrial fibrillation. The pressure gradient in the midventricle successfully improved from 53.

Impairment of Iodine-123-Metaiodobenzylguanidine (I-MIBG) Uptake in Patients with Pulmonary Artery Hypertension.

According to recent studies, lung uptake of iodine-123-metaiodobenzylguanidine (I-MIBG) is impaired in many lung diseases and low lung uptake of I-MIBG suggests endothelial dysfunction of the pulmonary artery. I-MIBG scintigraphy in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) has not yet been clinically evaluated. We hypothesized that the lung uptake of I-MIBG is reduced in patients with PH and differs among PH subtypes.

Successful antemortem diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy.

Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM) is a fatal cancer-related complication with rapid progression. Although the underlying molecular mechanisms of PTTM remain unclear, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may play important roles in the pathogenesis of PTTM. We herein report a case of PTTM that was diagnosed antemortem by pathology using pulmonary wedge aspiration.