Prospective evaluation of cinefluoroscopy and chest radiography for Riata lead defects: implications for future lead screening.

Introduction: Lead insulation defects with externalization of the conductors exist in Riata defibrillator leads. Cinefluoroscopy is currently the gold standard to detect such defects. Prospective evaluation of alternative screening options such as chest radiography (CXR), which has been recommended by the FDA, is not well described.

Giant coronary artery aneurysm seen on blood-pool study.

An 81-year-old man was incidentally found to have a large pericardial cyst on a chest computed tomography. Before surgical removal, an echocardiogram demonstrated that the cyst was more likely a large (7.5 cm) right coronary arterial aneurysm.

One hundred-foot walk test for functional assessment of clinic patients.

Background: Gait velocity measurements provide functional assessment of patients with diverse diseases and allow predictions about future adverse events. The optimal distance for patient classification is uncertain.

Methods: Participants were identified in internal medicine clinics and had to be independently ambulatory.

Acute massive cerebral infarctions treated with hemodialysis.

We report here a 19-year-old woman with Down syndrome and end-stage renal disease who presented with left-sided weakness and fever. She had a massive pericardial effusion of unclear origin that required daily hemodialysis (HD) and cardiac intervention. She developed an acute right middle cerebral artery infarction with severe edema; her cerebral edema significantly improved with daily HD.