Enhancing risk assessment in Chagas cardiomyopathy: Electrophysiology study stratified by Rassi score.

Background: Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCM) is increasingly prevalent in developed countries due to migration from endemic areas. Accurate risk stratification is crucial due to the variable clinical course of CCM.

Objective: To analyze the association between Rassi score progression and electrophysiology study (EPS) changes in CCM patients.

Malignant cardiac neoplasms and associated malignancies over 16 years in the USA.

Background: Malignant cardiac neoplasms (MCNs), both primary and metastatic, are rare with few epidemiologic studies.

Methods: This retrospective study used the Healthcare Utilization Project/Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from 2002 to 2018 to evaluate the co-occurrences with other malignancies, and mortality of MCNs in the USA.

Results: The data contained 7207 weighted discharges of MCN.

Hospital admissions for mitral stenosis in pregnancy in the United States: a thirteen-year analysis.

Background: Cardiac conditions are a significant cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, significantly exacerbated during the hemodynamic demands of pregnancy. Mitral stenosis in pregnancy (MSp) is rare in the USA however, it has a high risk for maternal complications.

Methods: We aim to outline the burden of MSp hospitalizations nationally.

Pacemaker Reuse in Portuguese Speaking Countries: A Clinical Reflection.

There is a gap between high-income countries and others in terms of access to medical cardiac devices, such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators. Costs are one of the main barriers to the use of cardiac devices in these countries. There are international initiatives that aim to reduce the gap.

Remote monitoring of pacemakers and defibrillators: Effective and safe in Brazil?

Background: The remote monitoring (RM) of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) has become a common method of in-home monitoring and follow-up in high-income countries given its effectiveness, safety, convenience, and the possibility of early intervention. However, in Brazil, RM is still underutilized.

Objectives: This observational study aims to demonstrate our experience of using RM in Brazil and the predictive factors of RM of CIED follow-up in Brazil.

Cardiac cysticercosis in the setting of colorectal cancer and immunosuppression.

Cysticercosis is a parasitic infection that is caused by the tapeworm and is prevalent in Latin America, southern Africa, and parts of Asia. Cysticercosis normally affects the central nervous system, but rare cases of cardiac cysticercosis have been reported in the literature. We report a case of asymptomatic cardiac cysticercosis in a 54-year-old Afro-Brazilian man with a history of hemicolectomy and chemotherapy, who demonstrated characteristic intramyocardial lesions on transthoracic echocardiogram and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and responded well to subsequent treatment with albendazole and prednisone.

Hospitalization for Chagas Heart Disease in the United States From 2002 to 2017.

This cross-sectional study examines characteristics and outcomes of estimated discharges for Chagas heart disease in the United States from 2002 to 2017.

Benign Cardiac Neoplasms in the United States: A Thirteen-Year Review.

Cardiac neoplasms are uncommon tumors. For epidemiological purposes, they can be divided into benign and malignant subtypes, with the former occurring at a significantly higher rate than the latter. Due to their uncommon nature, there are few data-driven studies examining the characteristics and trends of benign cardiac neoplasms.

Ruptured Aneurysm of the Sinus of Valsalva Causing Pulmonary Embolism: A Rare Association.

Aneurysms of the sinus of Valsalva are rare. Unruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is usually asymptomatic and rarely presents as right ventricular outflow obstruction, myocardial infarction as a result of coronary artery compression, conduction disturbances, or endocarditis. They have only been reported as the presumed source of embolism in six cases.

Hospital admissions for aortic stenosis in pregnancy in the United States - a thirteen year analysis.

Cardiac disease is still the leading cause of non-pregnancy related maternal morbidity and mortality. Valvular disease is one of the most concerning cardiac conditions in pregnancy. Aortic stenosis (AS) is rare in young populations but deadly complications have been reported in pregnant women.

Large Bowel Obstruction in the Setting of Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma.

Large bowel obstruction (LBO) is a potential surgical emergency, commonly caused by colorectal carcinoma, diverticular stricture, and volvulus. LBO secondary to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) is a rare occurrence. We report an 81-year-old man with a history of CLL/SLL who presented to the emergency department with episodes of abdominal cramps and discomfort, diarrhea, vomiting, subjective flushes, and sweats.

A Rare Case of Non-Prosthetic Aortic Valve Infectious Endocarditis Caused by Achromobacter xylosoxidans.

BACKGROUND Achromobacter xylosoxidans is a ubiquitous environmental gram-negative bacterium, very resistant to antibiotics. Endocarditis caused by these bacteria is extremely rare, with only 20 cases described in the literature to our knowledge. Mortality rates are high, and treatment usually involves a combination of antibiotics and surgery.

Pyomyositis in the United States 2002-2014.

Objectives: Primary pyomyositis is a bacterial infection of skeletal muscle first recognized in tropical regions of the world but needing characterization in temperate climates.

Methods: This population-based study used the Healthcare Utilization Project/Nationwide Inpatient Sample database to characterize the trends of pyomyositis admissions in the United States from 2002-2014 using ICD-9 diagnostic codes.

Results: We found a concerning more than three-fold increase in the incident pyomyositis admissions over our study period.

Hospital admissions for tuberculous pericarditis in the United States 2002-2014.

Background: Extra pulmonary manifestations of tuberculosis (TB) are rare in developed countries. TB is the main etiology of chronic pericarditis in developing countries, but it's epidemiology is not unknown in the United States.

Methods: This retrospective study used the Healthcare Utilization Projects/Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUPS/NIS) database from 2002-2014 to evaluate the characteristics, risk factors, trends over time and region of tuberculous pericarditis in the United States.

Persistent heart failure following melphalan and fludarabine conditioning.

Advances in chemotherapy and radiotherapy have greatly improved cancer survival, but their side effects can sometimes be more dangerous than the cancer itself. Understanding these risks is especially important when the consequences are as life-threatening as heart failure. Melphalan and fludarabine are drugs used in many chemotherapy regimens and are not usually associated with cardiotoxicity.

Lead Removal Without Extraction Tools: A Single-Center Experience.

Introduction: Indications for cardiac devices have been increasing as well as the need for lead extractions as a result of infections, failed leads and device recalls. Powered laser sheaths, with a global trend towards the in-creasingly technological tools, meant to improve the procedure's outcome but have economic implications.

Objective: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the experience of a Bra-zilian center that uses simple manual traction in most lead removals per-formed annually, questioning the real need for expensive and technically challenging new devices.

Takayasu arteritis with multiple coronary involvement and early graft relapse.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) due to Takayasu arteritis (TA) is rare. This article reports a case of severe involvement of multiple coronary arteries in a young woman. She was treated with coronary artery bypass grafting and had an early venous graft stenosis despite immunosuppressants.

Clinical Course After Cardioverter-Defibrillator Implantation: Chagasic Versus Ischemic Patients.

Background: The outcome of Chagas disease patients after receiving implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is still controversial.

Objective: To compare clinical outcomes after ICD implantation in patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) and ischemic heart disease (IHD).

Methods: Prospective study of a population of 153 patients receiving ICD (65 with CCC and 88 with IHD).