Racial and ethnic characteristics and cancer-specific survival in Primary Malignant Cardiac Tumors.

Background: There is limited insight into the epidemiological characteristics and effect of race and ethnicity on Primary Malignant Cardiac Tumors (PMCTs).

Objectives: Comparison of clinical characteristics and cancer-specific survival outcomes of major races in the United States from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End-Result (SEER) registry.

Methods: ICD-O-3 codes were used to identify PMCTs for the years 1975 to 2015.

A nationwide cohort analysis to determine the prevalence of sinus node dysfunction and rates of pacemaker implantation in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been known to have various degrees of cardiac involvement. However, limited evidence exists on prevalence of heart rhythm disorders in patients with SLE who have subsequent pacemaker (PM) implantation. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of sinus node dysfunction (SND) in patients with SLE.

Left Ventricular Assist Device: What the Internist Needs to Know. A Review of the Literature.

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have revolutionized therapy for patients with Stage D heart failure (HF) with reduced systolic function providing not only improved survival benefits but also meaningful changes in quality of life and functional capacity. With technological advances and improved durability of devices, length of survival has significantly improved. With continued organ donor shortage, LVADs are frequently serving as a substitute for cardiac transplant as destination therapy, particularly among the elderly.

Transradial Versus Transfemoral Access for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention of Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: PCI of ULMS is frequently performed through TFA because of technical complexity and safety concern. Studies have shown comparable efficacy and safety of TRA versus TFA, however, these studies are few in number. We intended to compare the clinical outcomes between transradial access (TRA) and transfemoral access (TFA) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis (ULMS) by performing a meta-analysis.

Electrocardiogram-based scoring system for predicting secondary pulmonary hypertension: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: In this study, we have developed an electrocardiogram-based scoring system to predict secondary pulmonary hypertension.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Setting: Single tertiary-care hospital in Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA.

Meta-analysis of effect on mortality of percutaneous recanalization of coronary chronic total occlusions using a stent-based strategy.

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the all-cause mortality outcomes of successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTOs) with unsuccessful CTO-PCI, using a stent-based strategy. Multiple studies comparing successful CTO-PCI with unsuccessful CTO-PCI have reported variable outcomes. No systematic review or meta-analysis has been performed after stenting became the default strategy for CTO-PCI.

A conservative surgical approach for management of iatrogenic pulmonary artery perforation.

Accidental malposition of a chest tube in the pulmonary artery is a potentially fatal complication. Here we describe a 66 year-old obese woman with prior cardiac transplantation, intubated for respiratory failure and felt to have a large left pleural effusion. A chest tube was inserted using a trocar tube, and resulted in near-exsanguinating hemorrhage immediately, with development of hypovolemic shock.

Possible lenalidomide-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome during treatment for multiple myeloma.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a rare, severe cutaneous reaction most often associated with drug therapy. Lenalidomide is a derivative of thalidomide used in the treatment of multiple myeloma. We describe a case of Stevens-Johnson syndrome possibly induced by lenalidomide in a 73-year-old Caucasian female undergoing induction therapy for multiple myeloma.

Acute streptococcal myocarditis presenting as acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Acute streptococcal myocarditis is an uncommon diagnosis in the developed world. Its presentation masquerading as acute myocardial infarction is still uncommon. We describe a case of a young male presenting with a recent diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis followed by a classical presentation of post streptococcal myocarditis.

Submitral aneurysm: a case report.

Submitral aneurysm is a congenital out pouching of the left ventricular wall invariably occurring adjacent to the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve. This rare cardiac entity was initially described among the natives of South and West Africa and is considered rare in the Indian subcontinent. The clinical picture is dominated by congestive cardiac failure in the presence of mitral regurgitation.