Multiscale Analysis of Extracellular Matrix Remodeling in the Failing Heart.

Rationale: Cardiac ECM (extracellular matrix) comprises a dynamic molecular network providing structural support to heart tissue function. Understanding the impact of ECM remodeling on cardiac cells during heart failure (HF) is essential to prevent adverse ventricular remodeling and restore organ functionality in affected patients.

Objectives: We aimed to (1) identify consistent modifications to cardiac ECM structure and mechanics that contribute to HF and (2) determine the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Cardiovascular progenitor cells and tissue plasticity are reduced in a myocardium affected by Becker muscular dystrophy.

Unlabelled: We describe the association of Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) derived heart failure with the impairment of tissue homeostasis and remodeling capabilities of the affected heart tissue. We report that BMD heart failure is associated with a significantly decreased number of cardiovascular progenitor cells, reduced cardiac fibroblast migration, and ex vivo survival.

Background: Becker muscular dystrophy belongs to a class of genetically inherited dystrophin deficiencies.

Identification of a Diagnostic Set of Endomyocardial Biopsy microRNAs for Acute Cellular Rejection Diagnostics in Patients after Heart Transplantation Using Next-Generation Sequencing.

Introduction: Acute cellular rejection (ACR) of heart allografts represents the most common reason for graft failure. Endomyocardial biopsies (EMB) are still subject to substantial interobserver variability. Novel biomarkers enabling precise ACR diagnostics may decrease interobserver variability.

Viral genome changes and the impact of viral genome persistence in myocardium of patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy.

Introduction: Viral infections are considered the most frequent cause of myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Material And Methods: We investigated the changes in viral presence and the impact of viral genome persistence in the myocardium on echocardiographic parameters, functional status and some laboratory parameters in a 6-month follow-up. Fifty-four patients with recent onset DCM, left ventricular ejection fraction < 40% and biopsy-proven myocarditis (> 14 mononuclear leukocytes/mm and/or > 7 T-lymphocytes/mm) were enrolled.

The First Manifestation of a Left Atrial Myxoma as a Consequence of Multiple Left Coronary Artery Embolisms.

A case of multiple embolisms in the left coronary artery as a rare first manifestation of left atrial myxoma is reported. A patient with embolic myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure was treated by percutaneous aspirations and balloon dilatations. Transesophageal echocardiography disclosed a villous myxoma with high embolic potential.

[Heart transplantation and follow-up treatment with AL-amyloidosis in 5 patients].

The prognosis for patients with cardiac impairment due to AL-amyloid deposition and severe cardiac insufficiency is poor, with a survival median in the order of months. The classical treatment of AL-amyloidosis in combination with cardiac insufficiency is very poorly tolerated and the treatment of such patients is associated with considerably higher mortality than among other patients with AL-amyloidosis. If, however, patients with an isolated or another dominating cardiac impairment, without severe damage to other organs and tissues, have a heart transplant performed, their cardiovascular condition will significantly improve as a result, along with their ability to tolerate any kind of treatment for AL-amyloidosis including that using high-dose chemotherapy with a transplant of autologous hematopoietic stem cells.

First report of Sneathia sanguinegens together with Mycoplasma hominis in postpartum prosthetic valve infective endocarditis: a case report.

Background: The presence of more than one bacterial agent is relatively rare in infective endocarditis, although more common in prosthetic cases. Molecular diagnosis from a removed heart tissue is considered a quick and effective way to diagnose fastidious or intracellular agents.

Case Presentation: Here we describe the case of postpartum polymicrobial prosthetic valve endocarditis in a young woman.

Improvement of left ventricular systolic function in inflammatory cardiomyopathy: What plays a role?

Aims: To compare the differences between patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy (ICM) with and without improvement in left ventricular (LV) systolic function and to identify the relevant predictors of LV improvement.

Patients And Methods: The study included 63 patients with biopsy-proven ICM and heart failure symptoms of at least NYHA II, symptom duration ≤ 6 months, LV ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40% assessed by echocardiography and presence of >14 mononuclear leukocytes (LCA+ cells)/mm in biopsy samples. Patients were evaluated at baseline and after 6 months.

Dirofilaria repens: emergence of autochthonous human infections in the Czech Republic (case reports).

Background: Human dirofilariasis is a zoonotic infection that continues to spread to previously unaffected areas of Europe. In the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic (CR), imported as well as autochthonous canine infections were recorded in the last decade, and parasite DNA was detected in mosquitoes of Aedes vexans. In the present paper, human Dirofilaria infections are reported from the country for the first time.

[Recurrence of primary diseases after liver transplantation].

A majority of primary diseases for which orthotopic liver transplantation is carried out may recur in the liver allograft, mostly in adults. As the indication criteria, transplantation surgery and post-transplantation care improve, the patients survival lengthens as well, leading to concurrently increasing incidence as well as an increase in the relevance of recurrent diseases, which are the most significant cause of late liver graft dysfunction. The frequency, clinical consequences and therapeutic options of different disease recurrence vary considerably.

Correlations of the changes in bioptic findings with echocardiographic, clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy.

Patients with myocarditis and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction may improve after standard heart failure therapy. This improvement seems to be related to retreat of myocardial inflammation. The aim of the present study was to assess changes in clinical, echocardiographic and some laboratory parameters and to correlate them with changes in the number of inflammatory infiltrating cells in endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) samples during the 6-month follow-up, and to define predictors of LV function improvement among baseline parameters.

Differential expression of anterior gradient protein 3 in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common primary liver cancer next to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite the significant difference of the therapeutic strategy for both diseases, their histological appearance may be very similar. Thus the correct diagnosis is crucial for treatment choice but is often difficult to achieve.

The variable clinical course of peripartum cardiomyopathy.

Background: In Europe, peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare disorder, often difficult to diagnose and it has a variable clinical course. The aim of this report was to describe and discuss the individual variability of this disorder and its management.

Patients And Methods: Three cases of PPCM manifesting as severe heart failure are compared.

[Pathology of urogenital schistosomiasis].

The authors submit the case history of their patient presenting with chronic cystitis, consequence of an infestation with the fluke Schistosoma haematobium. They also present the most frequent morphological forms of urogenital schistosomiasis, its complications and the possibilities of pathological differential diagnosis, based on literary data (including information from electronic data bases) on the pathomorphology and, more particularly, the histopathology of urogenital schistosomiasis. Among the general histopathological changes we see lesions that correspond to an active chronic infection with a chiefly granulomatous reaction.