Normal echocardiographic findings in healthy pregnant women: A narrative review of the literature.

During pregnancy, significant physiological changes occur that result in cardiac remodeling and altered functional performance, though these are generally reversible postpartum. Pregnancy increases the cardiovascular system's demand, requiring substantial adaptations such as elevated cardiac output (CO), plasma volume, stroke volume (SV), and heart rate (HR), alongside a reduction in systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and mean arterial pressure. These adaptations, essential to meet the hemodynamic needs of both the mother and fetus, often differ from standard echocardiographic measurements used to evaluate cardiac function, making interpretation challenging.

Low-Flow, Low-Gradient Severe Aortic Stenosis in patients with preserved or reduced ejection fraction: a systematic literature review.

Objectives: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to analyze the current evidence on low-flow, low-gradient severe aortic stenosis. This analysis aimed to differentiate between subgroups of patients with reduced and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods: After conducting a systematic literature review, 35 observational studies were included.

Myxoma Mimic in a Patient With Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Cardiac masses are rare conditions that, depending on their size and location, can cause several cardiac and systemic symptoms. We describe a case of a 21-year-old male with a history of syphilis, pulmonary tuberculosis, and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), in whom a transthoracic echocardiogram assessment was solicited before the initiation of induction chemotherapy. The study revealed a pedunculated, highly mobile mass in the right atrium that protruded to the right ventricle.

Sarcopenic Dysphagia Is Associated With Mortality in Institutionalized Older Adults.

Objective: To estimate mortality associated with sarcopenic dysphagia.

Design: A 3-year follow-up cohort.

Setting And Participants: Ninety-five nursing home residents were evaluated to determine the baseline presence or absence of oropharyngeal dysphagia and followed up for 3 years.

Diaphragmatic Paraganglioma in an Adolescent Male.

Paragangliomas are an infrequent type of neuroendocrine tumor that commonly produces catecholamines. We describe a case of a 14-year-old male with a history of uncontrolled hypertension who presented to the emergency department with a headache, palpitations, and profuse sweating. Symptoms were explained by the presence of a catecholamine-producing paraganglioma located at the right diaphragm.

Mycobacterium avium complex infection in a patient with systemic sclerosis- associated interstitial lung disease: A case report.

We describe a case of a 65-year-old male with recently diagnosed diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis associated with usual interstitial pneumonia and pulmonary hypertension. Patient presented to the emergency department complaining of low-grade fever, increased sputum production, progressive dyspnea and weight loss. High-resolution computed tomography scan showed multifocal bronchiectasis with multiple small nodules.