East meets West: the influence of racial, ethnic and cultural risk factors on cardiac surgical risk model performance.

Objective: To explore the impact of racial and ethnic diversity on the performance of cardiac surgical risk models, the Chinese SinoSCORE was compared with the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) risk model in a diverse American population.

Methods: The SinoSCORE risk model was applied to 13 969 consecutive coronary artery bypass surgery patients from twelve American institutions. SinoSCORE risk factors were entered into a logistic regression to create a 'derived' SinoSCORE whose performance was compared with that of the STS risk model.

Challenges of Takayasu Arteritis in Pregnancy: A Case Report.

Takayasu arteritis is a rare, chronic vasculitis of unknown etiology characterized by inflammation of the aorta and its main branches. Although Takayasu arteritis mostly affects women of childbearing age, there is a paucity in the literature on pregnancy associated with Takayasu arteritis. Pregnant patients are at increased risk of cardiovascular complications, including hypertension and congestive heart failure, which may jeopardize both maternal and fetal outcomes.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type IV: A Case Report.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) encompasses a group of rare genetic connective tissue disorders. The vascular type (type IV) poses the most serious risk to patients. Diagnosis is usually difficult, especially if patients lack a family history.

Arterial Embolisms and Thrombosis in Upper Extremity Ischemia.

Objective: Upper extremity ischemia (UEI) is an uncommon condition that can lead to permanent disability. There is a limited understanding of the etiology, management, and outcomes of the disease.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients who were diagnosed with "embolism and/or thrombosis of arteries of upper extremity" at our institution from January 2005 to December 2013.