From garden to madness: herbal products and psychotic experiences.

Psychotic symptoms, characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and cognitive disturbances, are associated with various psychiatric and neurological disorders. This manuscript explores two cases of acute psychotic episodes triggered by the regular consumption of herbal products. The cases highlight the need for increased awareness of the potential toxic side effects of herbal products.

Valve sparing surgery in an adult patient with dextrocardia and annuloaortic ectasia.

We report the case of a patient with situs inversus totalis, annuloaortic ectasia complicated by aortic insufficiency and mitral regurgitation which induced congestive heart failure. Both valvular lesions were repaired physiologically using aortic root sparing Yacoub 'remodeling' technique and mitral ring annuloplasty. Valve sparing techniques can be used effectively even in patients with complicated clinical scenarios (like dextrocardia and annuloaortic ectasia) to avoid the potential risks related to prosthetic valve implantation and lifelong anticoagulation therapy.

Altered expression of micro-RNA 199a and increased levels of cardiac SIRT1 protein are associated with the occurrence of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a potentially life-threatening complication after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The expression of the cardioprotective SIRT1 protein with its antioxidant activity is increased in cardiac tissue of patients suffering from POAF. So far, information is lacking about the relationship between SIRT1 regulating micro RNAs (miRs), SIRT1 protein and the occurrence of POAF.

Assessment of carotid body tumor and its association with tetralogy of fallot: effect of the chronic hypoxia.

This is a rare combined presentation of Tetralogy of Fallot and carotid body tumor (CBT). Hypotheses and further discussion provides data for the development of CBT as a response to chronic hypoxemia. This present study demonstrates and discusses such an occurrence.

Posterior leaflet segment 2 plication in ischemic mitral regurgitation repair.

Aim: To evaluate the medium-term results of plication of posterior leaflet segment 2 in addition to ring annuloplasty in patients with functional ischemic mitral regurgitation.

Methods: The study included 136 patients who underwent mitral valve repair with plication of posterior leaflet segment 2 for ischemic mitral regurgitation between 2004 and 2012. The direction and correlation of left ventricle sphericity and tethering area were established by Pearson correlation analysis in patients with or without recurrent mitral regurgitation in the medium term.