Unicuspid unicommissural aortic valves: A surgical pathology analysis.

The unicuspid unicommisural aortic valve is an uncommon congenital malformation that often manifests as stenosis with or without regurgitation in adults in their third to fifth decades of life. This report characterizes the morphological features of surgically excised unicuspid valves in adults with clinical correlation. Among the surgically excised aortic valves over a period of 10 years, the clinical data and morphological features of unicuspid aortic valves were analyzed.

Septic pulmonary embolism: Is it an underestimated diagnosis?

Background: Non-thrombotic pulmonary embolism, an uncommon entity, is defined as the embolization of tissues, microorganisms, air, or foreign material. One subset in this non-thrombotic category is septic pulmonary embolism (SPE) that refers to embolism of microorganisms with or without a thrombotic mantle into the pulmonary vasculature. This condition is often recognized on the basis of imaging with a clinical correlation.

Recurrent Admissions for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Among Patients With and Without Peripheral Artery Disease: The ARIC Study.

Background Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is both a common comorbidity and a contributing factor to heart failure. Whether PAD is associated with hospitalization for recurrent decompensation among patients with established heart failure is uncertain. Methods and Results Since 2005, the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study has conducted active surveillance of hospitalized acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), with events verified by physician review.