Pathogenic truncating filamin C mutations presenting as acute myocarditis: a case series with insights from cardiac magnetic resonance and histological analysis.

Background: The exact mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of myocarditis are not always understood, but there is emerging evidence to suggest that genetic factors may play a significant role.

Case Summary: Herein, we present six cases in which clinical, biochemical, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance data were consistent with myocarditis, and genetic testing subsequently revealed pathogenic filamin C (FLNC) mutations. Three patients presented with ventricular arrhythmias, two with severe biventricular dysfunction, and two suffered sudden cardiac arrest.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging of pericardial diseases: a comprehensive guide.

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has been established as a valuable diagnostic tool in the assessment of pericardial diseases by providing information on cardiac anatomy and function, surrounding extra-cardiac structures, pericardial thickening and effusion, characterization of pericardial effusion, and the presence of active pericardial inflammation from the same scan. In addition, CMR imaging has excellent diagnostic accuracy for the non-invasive detection of constrictive physiology evading the need for invasive catheterization in most instances. Growing evidence in the field suggests that pericardial enhancement on CMR is not only diagnostic of pericarditis but also has prognostic value for pericarditis recurrence, although such evidence is derived from small patient cohorts.

Association between sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and incident atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) are associated with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). We investigated the effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on the incidence of AF and/or AFL in HFrEF patients. PubMed and ClinicalTrials.

Successful percutaneous closure of aortic root-to-right ventricle fistula after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a valuable option in high-risk surgical patients.

Background: Aortic-to-right ventricle (ARV) fistula is an uncommon complication of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Even though surgical closure is usually the treatment of choice in such communications, percutaneous treatment options are valuable alternatives for these high-risk surgical patients.

Case Summary: In this article, we present the percutaneous closure of an ARV fistula after TAVI, in a highly symptomatic patient with recurrent episodes of heart failure decompensation with worsening right ventricular function, who failed conservative medical treatment and was deemed inoperable.

A pilot study on right ventricular longitudinal strain as a predictor of outcome in COVID-19 patients with evidence of cardiac involvement.

Aims: The aim of this investigation was to evaluate echocardiographic parameters of cardiac function and in particular right ventricular (RV) function as a predictor of mortality in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia.

Methods And Results: This prospective observational study included 35 patients admitted to a UK district general hospital with COVID-19 and evidence of cardiac involvement, that is, raised Troponin I levels or clinical evidence of heart failure during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (March-May 2020). All patients underwent echocardiography including speckle tracking for right ventricular longitudinal strain (RVLS) providing image quality was sufficient (30 out of 35 patients).

Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint in an immunocompetent host; a three-year follow-up.

A 34 year-old lady was referred for rheumatology review by the orthopaedic team for further investigation of chronic left sternoclavicular joint pain. No preceding event such as trauma, injury or infection had occurred. A rheumatology workup turned out to be negative for an inflammatory arthropathy.

Hypothyroidism conversion to hyperthyroidism: it's never too late.

Unlabelled: Primary hypothyroidism is a common endocrine condition, most commonly caused by autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease) while Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism is usually a permanent condition in most patients requiring lifelong levothyroxine treatment. Transformation from Hashimoto's disease to Graves' disease is considered rare but recently been increasingly recognised.

Pneumococcal pulmonary valve endocarditis.

Pulmonary valve endocarditis is an rare type of infective endocarditis (IE). Streptococcus pneumoniae is a pathogen that is uncommonly associated with IE. A 50 year-old man was referred to us to an incidental echocardiographic finding of a pulmonary valve vegetation.

Primary Diffuse Leptomeningeal Gliomatosis: Radiological/Pathological Features.

We present the case of a 43-year-old lady who presented with headaches, visual impairment, and seizures, progressing rapidly over the course of a few weeks. Extensive workup excluded an inflammatory or infectious cause. Imaging studies revealed diffuse thickening of the leptomeninges and serial CSF analysis showed raised opening pressures and increased protein levels.

Spinal arteriovenous malformation presenting with urinary retention.

We present a case of a young female patient presenting predominantly with recurrent episodes of urinary retention. Extensive urological workup was unremarkable. There were some subtle and long-standing neurological findings which prompted us to investigate further with a spinal magnetic resonance imaging scan.

Correlation between global longitudinal peak systolic strain and coronary artery disease severity as assessed by the angiographically derived SYNTAX score.

Background: In this study, we investigate the correlation between reduced global longitudinal peak systolic strain (GLPSS) and the SYNTAX score (SS) in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Methods: We examined 71 patients undergoing both echocardiogram and coronary angiography within 15 days. All patients had normal global and/or regional wall motion on resting echocardiogram.

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells in periodontitis.

Background: Several biologically plausible mechanisms have been proposed to mediate the association between periodontitis and atherosclerotic vascular disease (AVD), including adverse effects on vascular endothelial function. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (cEPCs) are known to contribute to vascular repair, but limited data are available regarding the relationship between cEPC levels and periodontitis. The aims of this cross-sectional study are to investigate the levels of hemangioblastic and monocytic cEPCs in patients with periodontitis and periodontally healthy controls and to associate cEPC levels with the extent and severity of periodontitis.

A crossed brain stem syndrome without crossed sensory symptomatology.

Lateral medullary infarction (LMI) or Wallenberg syndrome is a type of brain stem stroke, more specifically, a type of crossed brain stem syndrome. LMI is a well-described entity with several documented typical characteristics including pain and temperature impairment in the ipsilateral to the lesion side of the face and the contralateral side of the trunk and limbs. We present a case of LMI which describes a patient who presented with atypical features of analgesia and thermanaesthesia on the contralateral side of the face and absence of sensory deficit on the ipsilateral side.

Dimensions of informal care in Greece: the family's contribution to the care of patients hospitalized in an oncology hospital.

Aims And Objectives: This study aims to explore the kind and frequency of care provided to hospitalized cancer patients by relatives and the reasons for providing this care.

Background: Informal care is a common phenomenon across many countries. In Greece, informal caring activities occur in most hospitals.

Coronary vascular and myocardial effects of substance P in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.

Age-matched male New Zealand white rabbits (n = 16) were allocated to two groups: group 1 (n = 8) received a standard rabbit diet; group 2 (n = 8) received a 2% cholesterol-enriched diet. After 8 weeks of prescribed diet, hearts were excised and placed on a constant perfusion pressure Langendorff-type apparatus. Coronary flow, left ventricular pressure, and isovolumic dP/dt were continuously measured.

Instantaneous changes in arterial compliance reduce energetic load on left ventricle during systole.

We tested the hypothesis that arterial compliance changes during each cardiac cycle, and that these instantaneous changes are beneficial for energy conservation. Using an adaptive identification procedure, we were able to obtain an instantaneous impulse-response representation of the arterial system. By assuming a three-element windkessel model, we obtained the instantaneous compliance.

The use of a small intra-aortic balloon to increase coronary flow.

A small spherical balloon, mounted on a catheter, was positioned, via an arteriotomy, in the ascending aorta 1 cm above the aortic valve in 10 dogs. The balloon was inflated for 60 ms, through the equipment of the intra-aortic balloon pump, during various parts of the cardiac cycle. When the inflation occurred during the rapid ejection phase, the systolic component of the coronary flow increased by 32.

[Development of the breasts of the fetus. Effects of the administration of hormonal preparations during pregnancy].

The mammary glands of ten still-birth premature fetuses were studied histologically. In seven cases a combination of oestrogen-progesterone preparations were administered to the mother in early pregnancy for a duration of at least 3 months. In three cases no hormones were administered.

Amniocentesis: indications and complications.

Transabdominal amniocentesis is described and our experience with this method is presented. No severe maternal complications were recorded. In two cases accidental puncture of fetal blood vessels in pregnancies over 40 weeks led to delivery by cesarean section.