Long-term antibiotic prophylaxis for prevention of rheumatic fever recurrence and progression to rheumatic heart disease.

Background: Rheumatic fever is a non-suppurative, inflammatory sequela of group A Streptococcus pharyngitis that can occur at two to four weeks after infection. Following an episode of rheumatic fever, there is a risk of developing rheumatic heart disease (RHD) later in life that carries significant risk of morbidity and mortality. RHD remains the largest global cause of cardiovascular disease in the young (age < 25 years).

Right-sided infective endocarditis with ventricular septal defect.

Infective endocarditis (IE) affects the endothelium of the heart, with the heart valves most commonly involved. It has been documented that the annual incidence of infective endocarditis is 3-10 per 100,000 patient-years1. However, it can be underestimated since the incidence in developing countries cannot be determined accurately.

Post-Cardiac Injury Syndrome Following Permanent Pacemaker Implantation Presenting Exclusively As Massive Pleural Effusion: A Rare Occurrence.

Post-Cardiac Injury Syndrome (PCIS) akin to Dressler's syndrome is late-onset pericarditis that is triggered by the body's immune system and presents commonly as pleuro- pericardial symptoms and raised inflammatory markers. Its occurrence following the insertion of a pacemaker has been reported infrequently and varies in different studies with an estimated prevalence of 1-2%. Our case reports a unique incidence of isolated pleural effusion following the implantation of a pacemaker in a 62-year-old female with complete heart block with no evidence of pericardial effusion on imaging.

Predictors of Contraceptive practice in married women of Punjab, Pakistan.

Objective: Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world. Current contraceptive use in Pakistan is only 26% despite being one of the leading countries in Asia to launch National family planning programs. Major constraint of acceptability among women is the lack of awareness and implementation of contraceptive methods.

Prognostic Value of Late Gadolinium Enhancement Detected on Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Cardiac Sarcoidosis.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a complex multisystem inflammatory disorder, with approximately 5% of patients having overt cardiac involvement. Patients with cardiac sarcoidosis are at an increased risk of both ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Previous studies have shown that the presence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is associated with an increased risk of mortality and ventricular arrhythmias and may be useful in predicting prognosis.

Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome.

Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome is extremely rare. Our patient, a 32 years old male, with history of orchidectomy presented with mass abdomen. He was initially diagnosed with seminoma and subsequently treated with chemotherapy.

An Early Presentation Of Supraglottic Laryngeal Paraganglioma: Case Report And Review Of Literature.

A thirty-year-old male presented with progressive hoarseness and dysphagia for solids. Fibre optic laryngoscopy showed a right supraglottic mass. Subsequent CT imaging showed the location and extent of the mass.

Review: Contemporary biological therapies for cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases are top cause of mortality in the world. Current interventional therapy and pharmacotherapy may alleviate symptoms or slow disease progression but are unable to cure or treat them. Molecular and pathophysiological advances have paved the way for contemporary biological therapies to be tested and standardized for the treatment of these diseases.

Accessory Cardiac Conduction Pathway with an Unusual Presentation.

Pre-excitation syndrome (PES) is a congenital abnormality in which there is conduction through accessory pathway in addition to atrioventricular (AV) node between the atria and the ventricles. Conduction through accessory pathway is without any delay and; hence, results in early excitation of ventricles. This dual connection provides substrate for atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia (AVRT), a type of supra-ventricular tachycardia.