Constrictive pericarditis as first presentation of IgG4-related disease: pitfalls and pearls.

IgG-4 related disease (IgG4-RD) is an under recognised multisystem inflammatory disorder that has several typical manifestations. Cardiac manifestations of IgG4-RD are well documented however do not feature in the definition or diagnosis of IgG4-RD according to a recent consensus statement. The most well recognised cardiac manifestation of IgG4-RD, pericardial disease, is outlined in this case report as the initial presenting pathology.

Changing Epidemiology of Myocarditis in Australia: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

: Myocarditis is a serious disease that has drawn increasing attention due to its association with COVID-19 and vaccination. This study investigates the epidemiology of myocarditis beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, including its incidence and outcomes over time. : We analyzed the population-wide retrospective data from the Admitted-Patient-Data-Collection database of patients admitted to hospitals in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, with a diagnosis of myocarditis from 2001 to 2022.

Healthcare exposures and associated risk of endocarditis after open-heart cardiac valve surgery.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) following cardiac valve surgery is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Data on the impact of iatrogenic healthcare exposures on this risk are sparse. This study aimed to investigate risk factors including healthcare exposures for post open-heart cardiac valve surgery endocarditis (PVE).

Insulin therapy associated relative hypoglycemia during critical illness.

Purpose: In critically ill diabetes patients, relative hypoglycemia (RH) (a decrease in glucose ≥30% below pre-admission levels, as estimated by HbA1c) is associated with greater mortality and absolute hypoglycemia. We investigated the epidemiology and outcomes of RH when it was associated with insulin therapy.

Methods: We performed retrospective analysis of a cohort of critically ill patients with diabetes who received insulin in the intensive care units (ICUs) of a tertiary hospital.

Performance of Ga-68 PSMA PET/CT for diagnosis and grading of local prostate cancer.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the utility of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT for the detection of local disease within the prostate.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of a single-center experience evaluating intraprostatic detection rates compared with final histopathology in a radical prostatectomy (RP) population. Seventy-two patients had PSMA PET/CT scan performed as part of their primary staging.

Relative Hypoglycemia in Diabetic Patients With Critical Illness.

Objectives: Relative hypoglycemia is a decrease in glucose greater than or equal to 30% below prehospital admission levels (estimated by hemoglobin A1C) but not to absolute hypoglycemia levels. It is a recognized pathophysiologic phenomenon in ambulant poorly controlled diabetic patients but remains unexamined during critical illness. We examined the frequency, characteristics, and outcome associations of relative hypoglycemia in diabetic patients with critical illness.

Carotid artery and cerebral blood flow during experimental cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A systematic review of the literature.

Background: The carotid artery blood flow (CABF) or cerebral blood flow (CBF) achieved with current techniques of cardiac compression in humans are unknown. Animal experiments may provide useful information on such flows and on possible techniques to optimize them.

Objectives: To obtain an estimate of carotid and cerebral blood flows during cardiac compression with different techniques.