Heart function assessment during aging in apolipoprotein E knock-out mice.

Background: Apolipoprotein (apo) E isoforms have strong correlations with metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. However, it is not clear if apoE has a role in development of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. Our study aims to analyze the involvement of apoE in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Spinal cord infarction caused by extensive aortic intramural hematoma.

We report the case of a 62-year-old Caucasian man, an ex-smoker, who presented to the emergency room complaining of intense lower back pain followed by immediate bilateral loss of inferior limbs motor function. Clinical examination showed complete paralysis and paranesthesia in both legs, while pain and temperature sensory examination revealed a sensory level at dermatome T6, with normal touch, vibration, and position senses. His blood pressure was 190∕100 mmHg.

Apolipoprotein E4 Is Associated with Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Dilated Cardiomyopathy-An Animal and In-Human Comparative Study.

ApoE abnormality represents a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Beyond its role in lipid metabolism, novel studies demonstrate a complex involvement of apoE in membrane homeostasis and signaling as well as in nuclear transcription. Due to the large spread of apoE isoforms in the human population, there is a need to understand the apoE's role in pathological processes.

Isorhythmic atrioventricular dissociation in an adult with levo-transposition of the great arteries.

A 36-year-old woman with levo-transposition of the great arteries presented for a programmed visit. She was asymptomatic and the clinical examination showed no signs of decompensated heart failure. Standard 12-lead ECG showed isorhythmic atrioventricular dissociation.

Subacute effusive-constrictive pericarditis in a patient with COVID-19.

We report the case of a previously healthy young woman, who developed a severe form of COVID-19 with massive pneumonia and acute pericarditis in whom constrictive physiology developed rapidly. To our knowledge, this represents the second reported case of SARS-CoV-2 constrictive pericarditis, a rare, but severe cardiac complication.

Testosterone, cardiomyopathies, and heart failure: a narrative review.

Testosterone exerts an important regulation of cardiovascular function through genomic and nongenomic pathways. It produces several changes in cardiomyocytes, the main actor of cardiomyopathies, which are characterized by pathological remodeling, eventually leading to heart failure. Testosterone is involved in contractility, in the energy metabolism of myocardial cells, apoptosis, and the remodeling process.

An unusual case of aortic metastasis from lung cancer.

In patients with cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction or aortic dissection without known risk factors for cardiovascular disease, neoplastic disease should be considered as a differential diagnosis. In this report, we present a case of a 51-year old man with previously undiagnosed non-small lung cancer leading to fatal cardiovascular complications due to hemovascular spread, diagnosed post-mortem. This case illustrates the value of autopsy in unexpected deaths.

A rare case of familial restrictive cardiomyopathy, with mutations in MYH7 and ABCC9 genes.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy is the least common type of cardiomyopathy, being defined by diastolic dysfunction and often unimpaired systolic function. Restrictive cardiomyopathies can be classified as familial or non-familial. Patients with familial restrictive cardiomyopathy can develop signs and symptoms of this condition anytime from childhood to adulthood.

Longitudinal strain analysis allows the identification of subclinical deterioration of right ventricular function in patients with cancer therapy-related left ventricular dysfunction.

Background: This study was designed to assess right ventricular systolic function in cancer patients.

Methods And Results: 68 consecutive patients receiving potentially cardiotoxic agents were followed for 6 months in a single-center, observational, cohort-study. Left ventricle and free-wall right ventricular longitudinal strain were analyzed prior and after 6 months of treatment, using a vendor-independent software, together with left ventricle ejection fraction, tricuspid annulus plane systolic excursion and right ventricular fractional area change.

Native valve endocarditis with .

We report a rare case of native valve endocarditis caused by in an immunocompetent 79-year-old man with known degenerative valvular heart disease but no previous risk factors such as recent invasive treatment or medical implant. The patient presented with heart failure, due to perforation of the mitral valve, and lacked any signs of infection. The diagnosis of endocarditis with was established by echocardiography and positive blood cultures.

Right atrium floating thrombus and bilateral pulmonary embolism in a patient with pancreatic pseudocyst.

Pulmonary embolism in the context of pancreatitis is a rare condition and even fewer cases of pulmonary embolism associated with pancreatic pseudocyst and chronic pancreatitis have been reported in the literature. We present the case of a patient diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis due to alcohol ingestion complicated with pancreatic pseudocyst, with no classic thrombogenic risk factors, who developed right atrial thrombus and massive bilateral pulmonary embolism. < Venous thromboembolism risk is present in acute pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer, but even chronic pancreatitis may promote thrombogenesis and trigger the development of a life-threatening condition such as pulmonary embolism.

Apolipoprotein E in Cardiovascular Diseases: Novel Aspects of an Old-fashioned Enigma.

The presence of different APOE isoforms represents a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Besides the pleiotropic effects of APOE polymorphism on heart and neurological diseases, this review summarizes the less-known functions of APOE and the possible implications for cardiovascular disorders. Beyond the role as lipid transporting protein, its involvement in lipid membrane homeostasis and signaling, as well as its nuclear transcriptional effects suggests a more complex role of APOE, receiving great interest from researchers and physicians from all medical fields.