Search

The role of the sports cardiologist has evolved into an essential component of the medical care of athletes. In addition to the improvement in health outcomes caused by reductions in cardiovascular risk, exercise results in adaptations in cardiovascular structure and function, termed exercise-induced cardiac remodeling. As diagnostic modalities have evolved over the last century, we have learned much about the healthy athletic adaptation that occurs with exercise. Sports cardiologists care for those with known or previously unknown cardiovascular conditions, distinguish findings on testing as physiological adaptation or pathological changes, and provide evidence-based and "best judgment" assessment of the risks of sports participation. We review the effects of exercise on the heart, the approach to common clinical scenarios in sports cardiology, and the importance of a patient/athlete-centered, shared decision-making approach in the care provided to athletes.

Background The coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic led to disruptions in operative and hospital capabilities as the country triaged resources and canceled elective procedures. This study details the operative experience of a safety‐net hospital for cancer‐related operations during a 3‐month period at the height of the pandemic. Methods Patients operated on for or diagnosed with malignancies of the abdomen, breast, skin, or soft‐tissue (September 3, 2020–September 6, 2020) were identified from operative/clinic schedules. Sociodemographics, tumor and treatment characteristics, and COVID‐19 information was identified through retrospective chart review of a prospectively maintained database. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Results Fifty patients evaluated within this window underwent oncologic surgery. Median age was 61 (interquartile range: 53–68), 56% were female, 86% were White, and 66% were Hispanic. The majority (28%) were for colon cancer. Only two patients tested positive for COVID‐19 preoperatively or within 30 days of their operation. There were no mortalities during the 1‐year study period. Conclusion During the COVID‐19 pandemic, many hospitals and operative centers limited interventions to preserve resources, but oncologic procedures continued at many large‐volume academic cancer centers. This study underscores the importance of continuing to offer surgery during the pandemic for surgical oncology cases at safety‐net hospitals to minimize delays in time‐sensitive oncologic treatment.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text., Background: Cardiac involvement among hospitalized patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is common and associated with adverse outcomes. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical implications of COVID-19 cardiac involvement in young competitive athletes. Methods: In this prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study with data from 42 colleges and universities, we assessed the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of COVID-19 cardiac involvement among collegiate athletes in the United States. Data were collected from September 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020. The primary outcome was the prevalence of definite, probable, or possible COVID-19 cardiac involvement based on imaging definitions adapted from the Updated Lake Louise Imaging Criteria. Secondary outcomes included the diagnostic yield of cardiac testing, predictors for cardiac involvement, and adverse cardiovascular events or hospitalizations. Results: Among 19 378 athletes tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, 3018 (mean age, 20 years [SD, 1 year]; 32% female) tested positive and underwent cardiac evaluation. A total of 2820 athletes underwent at least 1 element of cardiac triad testing (12-lead ECG, troponin, transthoracic echocardiography) followed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) if clinically indicated. In contrast, primary screening CMR was performed in 198 athletes. Abnormal findings suggestive of SARS-CoV-2 cardiac involvement were detected by ECG (21 of 2999 [0.7%]), cardiac troponin (24 of 2719 [0.9%]), and transthoracic echocardiography (24 of 2556 [0.9%]). Definite, probable, or possible SARS-CoV-2 cardiac involvement was identified in 21 of 3018 (0.7%) athletes, including 15 of 2820 (0.5%) who underwent clinically indicated CMR (n=119) and 6 of 198 (3.0%) who underwent primary screening CMR. Accordingly, the diagnostic yield of CMR for SARS-CoV-2 cardiac involvement was 4.2 times higher for a clinically indicated CMR (15 of 119 [12.6%]) versus a primary screening CMR (6 of 198 [3.0%]). After adjustment for race and sex, predictors of SARS-CoV-2 cardiac involvement included cardiopulmonary symptoms (odds ratio, 3.1 [95% CI, 1.2, 7.7]) or at least 1 abnormal triad test result (odds ratio, 37.4 [95% CI, 13.3, 105.3]). Five (0.2%) athletes required hospitalization for noncardiac complications of COVID-19. During clinical surveillance (median follow-up, 113 days [interquartile range=90 146]), there was 1 (0.03%) adverse cardiac event, likely unrelated to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 infection among young competitive athletes is associated with a low prevalence of cardiac involvement and a low risk of clinical events in short-term follow-up.

In this brief report, we describe the safety of reopening US Olympic and Paralympic Training facilities (USOPTFs) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic from July 2020 through October 2020. We evaluated the prevalence of COVID-19 infection at the time of reentry and cardiopulmonary sequelae of COVID-19 in elite athletes. All athletes returning to a USOPTF were required to go through a reentry protocol consisting of an electronic health history, a 6-day quarantine including twice-daily symptom surveys, COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction and antibody testing, physical examination, 12-lead electrocardiogram, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I, and pulmonary function testing. Athletes with current or prior COVID-19 infection also underwent an echocardiogram, cardiology consultation, and additional testing as indicated. All athletes followed rigorous infection prevention measures and minimized contact with the outside community following reentry. At the time of this report, 301 athletes completed the reentry protocol among which 14 (4.7%) tested positive for active (positive polymerase chain reaction test, n = 3) or prior (positive antibody test, n = 11) COVID-19 infection. During the study period, this cohort accrued 14,916 days living and training at USOPTFs. Only one (0.3%) athlete was subsequently diagnosed with a new COVID-19 infection. No cardiopulmonary pathology attributable to COVID-19 was detected. Our findings suggest that residential elite athlete training facilities can successfully resume activity during the COVID-19 pandemic when strict reentry and infection prevention measures are followed. Dissemination of our reentry quarantine and screening protocols with COVID-19 mitigation measures may assist the global sports and medical community develop best practices for reopening of similar training centers.

Infrared (IR) thermographic assessment of ocular surface temperature (OST) is gaining interest as an adjuvant method to evaluate the ocular surface. It is a quick, non-invasive test that causes minimal, if any, discomfort to patients. The purpose of this article was to summarize research on how OST relates to tear film parameters and dry eye disease (DED). PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus searches for specific terms were carried out and eligible articles reviewed. OST of the central cornea is ~34-35°C when measured as a single time-point (typically right after a blink). Dynamically, OST values decrease over time at a rate of ~ −0.01 °C/s in healthy eyes. Single time-point OST values are impacted by temperature, with positive correlations noted with both ambient (1°C↓ results in ~0.16°C↓ in OST) and body (1°C↑ results in ~0.98°C↑ in OST) temperature. Single time-point OST values are also impacted by tear parameters, with negative correlations noted with tear break-up time (TBUT; r=−0.61) and positive correlations with lipid layer thickness (~r=0.50). Dynamically, the rate of OST cooling over the interblink period correlates with various tear parameters including Schirmer’s test scores (r=−0.39), tear meniscus height (r=−0.52) and the rate of tear film break-up (r=−0.74). These data imply that OST decreases more rapidly in individuals with greater tear production, larger tear volumes, and shorter tear break-up times (faster rates of tear film break-up). There are discrepancies in relationships between OST and DED across studies, which is not surprising given that DED encompasses a number of different phenotypic presentations. However, most studies found that OST decreases at a more rapid rate in DED vs. control groups. As such, cooling rate may have utility as a screening tool in DED in combination with established point-of-care tests.

BACKGROUND Diffuse interstitial lung disease is on the rise in recent times. This could be attributed to number of causes / reasons. Environmental pollution is one of the important causes for the upswing. Increased exposure to inorganic dust, toxic fumes, certain drugs (gold, amiodarone, antibiotics etc.) and radiation can also cause ILD (Interstitial Lung Disease). METHODS This is a hospital based prospective observational study, conducted in the Department of Radiodiagnosis, NSCB Medical College and Hospital, Jabalpur. This study comprised of a total of 50 patients clinically diagnosed interstitial lung disease who had undergone x-ray chest and HRCT (High-Resolution Computed Tomography) Chest examination. RESULTS Incidence of interstitial lung disease was maximum in the middle age group of 51 – 60 years (38 %) with male predominance (58 %). Smoking habit was seen to be associated with 52 % of the cases suggesting association. 8 patients (16 %) had developed diffuse lung disease secondary to connective tissue disorder (rheumatoid arthritis, progressive systemic sclerosis and polymyositis). A confident diagnosis was made on the basis of chest radiograph alone in 11 patients (29 %). Among cases evaluated by HRCT Chest, 41 (82 %) cases showed specific patterns of ILD and nine cases (18 %) showed nonspecific patterns and were classified under unclassified IIP (Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia). Out of 41 cases, the most common ILD reported was IPF (20) followed by cases of idiopathic NSI, 8 cases of collagen vascular diseases, 2 cases suggestive of COP / BOOP, and smoking related ILDs were seen in 4 cases, and 2 cases of sarcoidosis were seen in the study. Occupational- and radiation-induced-ILD were seen in one case each. CONCLUSIONS Chest radiography is the initial imaging investigation in the evaluation of diffuse interstitial lung disease. HRCT is the imaging modality of choice to assess interstitial lung disease. It can detect lesion even when the chest radiograph is normal. HRCT can confirm the location, extent of disease, and pattern of disease. HRCT helps in the confident diagnosis of ILD as compared to chest radiography. Thus, it avoids lung biopsy in a large number of patients. HRCT is also useful in assessing the disease reversibility. Follow up of patients is better done by HRCT. KEYWORDS HRCT, Interstitial Lung Disease, Chest X-Ray, Ground Glass Opacity, Honeycombing

The purpose of this study was to determine whether timing of the initiating event of spontaneous labor (either uterine contractions with intact fetal membranes or rupture of membranes prior to labor (PROM)) is associated with maternal viral infection. It was a prospective case control study of women with either spontaneous labor or PROM occurring

Aim: To study if there is an increase in the serum levels of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) in patients with glioblastoma so that it can be used as a diagnostic biomarker for these cases. Design: Prospective observational study. Material and Methods: We prospectively examined 193 patients, out of which 25 were controls (patients with degenerative spinal disease or CV junction anomaly), 79 were tumors other than glioma, 45 were histologically proven gliomas except glioblastoma and 44 were histologically proven glioblastomas. Serum was taken from the patients in the pre-operative period. Serum GFAP levels were determined using a biotin-labeled antibody-based sandwich enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative measurement of GFAP in ng/ml. Statistical Analysis: Data analysis was performed by using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 20:0. Statistical significance was defined as P value < 0.05. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to find the cut-off value of serum GFAP for glioblastoma patients. Results: In Group A (25 controls) and Group B (79 patients with non-glial brain tumors), no patient had detectable levels of GFAP in their serum. Out of the 45 patients with histologically proven gliomas except glioblastoma (Group C), 12 patients had raised serum GFAP levels. Out of the 44 patients with histologically proven glioblastomas (Group D), 38 patients had raised serum GFAP levels while in the remaining 6, the levels of serum GFAP were not detectable. The sensitivity of serum GFAP levels in diagnosing glioblastoma patients was 86.36% and the specificity was 91.95%. The diagnostic accuracy of the test was 90.67%. Conclusions: Serum GFAP is a sensitive and specific marker for glioblastoma and can be a useful pre-operative serum biochemical investigation in differentiating glioblastoma cases from other brain tumors.

To inform the reader on the current knowledge of the cardiovascular effects of swimming and review the characteristics and treatments of unique cardiac conditions affecting the swimmer including swimming-induced pulmonary edema, long QT syndrome, troponin elevation, and sudden cardiac arrest/death. New research has characterized swimming-induced cardiac remodeling as eccentric remodeling notable for greater left ventricular chamber dilation relative to wall thickening suggesting that swimming primarily challenges the heart with a volume load. Additionally, recent data from triathlons have shown that most sudden deaths occur during the swim segment of the race; however, our understanding of the cause of death remains incomplete. Cardiovascular management of the competitive swimmer is currently based on experience and anecdotal evidence. Future studies are needed to help improve our understanding of the physiologic remodeling in response to swimming and to better understand the risks and treatment of cardiovascular diseases that are uniquely encountered by swimmers.

The meconium microbiome may provide insight into intrauterine and peripartum exposures and the very earliest intestinal pioneering microbes. Prenatal antibiotics have been associated with later obesity in children, which is thought to be driven by microbiome dependent mechanisms. However, there is little data regarding associations of prenatal or peripartum antibiotic exposure, with or without cesarean section (CS), with the features of the meconium microbiome. In this study, 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing was performed on bacterial DNA of meconium samples from 105 infants in a birth cohort study. After multivariable adjustment, delivery mode (p = 0.044), prenatal antibiotic use (p = 0.005) and peripartum antibiotic use (p &lt, 0.001) were associated with beta diversity of the infant meconium microbiome. CS (vs. vaginal delivery) and peripartum antibiotics were also associated with greater alpha diversity of the meconium microbiome (Shannon and Simpson, p &lt, 0.05). Meconium from infants born by CS (vs. vaginal delivery) had lower relative abundance of the genus Escherichia (p &lt, 0.001). Prenatal antibiotic use and peripartum antibiotic use (both in the overall analytic sample and when restricting to vaginally delivered infants) were associated with differential abundance of several bacterial taxa in the meconium. Bacterial taxa in the meconium microbiome were also differentially associated with infant excess weight at 12 months of age, however, sample size was limited for this comparison. In conclusion, prenatal and peripartum antibiotic use along with CS delivery were associated with differences in the diversity and composition of the meconium microbiome. Whether or not these differences in the meconium microbiome portend risk for long-term health outcomes warrants further exploration.

Acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN) is a deep retinal ischemic manifestation. It has been reported after the use of sympathomimetics, childbirth, bee sting, oral contraceptives, flu-like illness, intravenous contrast agents and bodily trauma not directly involving the eyes. We report a case of AMN following blunt ocular trauma. An 18-year-old male presented with an acute history of blurring of vision following blunt trauma to the right eye. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) showed hyperreflectivity of the outer nuclear layer with ellipsoid layer disruption. This report highlights AMN as a manifestation of blunt trauma, presence of which may be an indicator of poor visual prognosis.

We describe a case of dengue shock syndrome, perimyocarditis, and low-pressure cardiac tamponade following a trip to the Caribbean. The case was managed in the critical care unit and 6 weeks after discharge the patient was asymptomatic with a normal ejection fraction. Dengue fever presenting as cardiac tamponade is exceedingly rare and emphasizes the importance of taking a thorough travel history as well as being aware of atypical manifestations of rare diseases to make a correct diagnosis.

KEY POINTS: Intense physical activity, a potent stimulus for sympathetic nervous system activation, is thought to increase the risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmias among patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). As a result, the majority of patients with HCM deliberately reduce their habitual physical activity after diagnosis and this lifestyle change puts them at risk for sequelae of a sedentary lifestyle: weight gain, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, insulin resistance, coronary artery disease, and increased morbidity and mortality. We show that plasma catecholamine levels remain stably low at exercise intensities below the ventilatory threshold, a parameter that can be defined during cardiopulmonary exercise testing, but rise rapidly at higher intensities of exercise. These findings suggest that cardiopulmonary exercise testing may be a useful tool to provide an individualized moderate‐intensity exercise prescription for patients with HCM. ABSTRACT: Intense physical activity, a potent stimulus for sympathetic nervous system activation, is thought to increase the risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmias among patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, the impact of exercise intensity on plasma catecholamine levels among HCM patients has not been rigorously defined. We conducted a prospective observational case‐control study of men with non‐obstructive HCM and age‐matched controls. Laboratory‐based cardiopulmonary exercise testing coupled with serial phlebotomy was used to define the relationship between exercise intensity and plasma catecholamine levels. Compared to controls (C, n = 5), HCM participants (H, n = 9) demonstrated higher left ventricular mass index (115 ± 20 vs. 90 ± 16 g/m(2), P = 0.03) and maximal left ventricular wall thickness (16 ± 1 vs. 8 ± 1 mm, P

Patients with musculoskeletal complaints have either been ignored or advised investigations far beyond their means or comfort. Focusing attention only on spine and head restricted the evaluation in cases of trauma and were followed up only if the injuries were life threatening. In the same vein, the extremities often got overlooked or at best were evaluated only by plain radiographs. Soft tissue injuries were therefore often missed and not only raised the morbidity in the patient but also dissatisfaction towards the treating physician. Recent exponential improvement in medical ultrasound technology has revolutionised the field of musculoskeletal imaging. Cutting-edge technology using state-of-the-art machines and high-frequency transducers have placed it in a stronger position as compared to in the past in many aspects of musculoskeletal imaging. Also, with better techniques and understanding of the modality, under given set of circumstances MSK ultrasound has far reaching results allowing for detailed evaluation of soft tissues including nerves, ligaments and tendons.

We present the case of a 16-year-old boy who presented with fatigue, polyuria, and polydipsia while on chemotherapy for his relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Blood gas examination confirmed the diagnosis of hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state. The etiology for his hyperglycemia was most likely a result of oral glucocorticoid therapy combined with asparaginase therapy-both are a cornerstone of induction chemotherapy for ALL. The patient was aggressively rehydrated with saline, and medications were administered to correct his hyperkalemia. He was then slowly brought to euglycemia with a continuous infusion of insulin. Although hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state is rare during the treatment of ALL, frontline providers should be aware of this diagnosis because of the significant risk of hypovolemic shock and death if correction of hyperglycemia occurs prior to complete fluid resuscitation.

A 26-year-old asymptomatic competitive athlete was found to have a delta wave consistent with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) pattern on a preparticipation screening ECG. His medical history was unremarkable and without risk factors for coronary artery disease. Physical examination was normal. An

Endurance exercise training (ET) stimulates eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) with left atrial dilation. To date, the biochemical correlates of exercise-induced cardiac remodeling (EICR) remain incompletely understood. Collegiate male rowers ( n = 9) were studied with echocardiography and maximal-effort cardiopulmonary exercise testing (MECPET) before and after 90 days of ET intensification. Midregional proatrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP), NH2-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and high-sensitivity troponin T were measured at rest, peak MECPET, and 60 min post-MECPET at both study time points. Endurance exercise training resulted in eccentric LVH (LV mass = 102 ± 8 vs. 110 ± 11 g/m2, P = 0.001; relative wall thickness = 0.36 ± 0.04 vs. 0.37 ± 0.04, P = 0.103), left atrial dilation (74 ± 18 vs. 84 ± 15 ml, P < 0.001), and increased exercise capacity (peak V̇o2 = 53.0 ± 5.9 vs. 67.3 ± 8.2 ml·kg−1·min−1, P < 0.001). Left ventricular remodeling was characterized by an ~7% increase in LV wall thickness but only a 3% increase in LV chamber radius. The magnitude of natriuretic peptide release, examined as percent change from rest to peak exercise, was significantly lower for both MR-proANP (115 [95,127]% vs. 78 [59,87]%, P = 0.04) and NT-proBNP (46 [31,70]% vs. 27 [25,37]%, P = 0.02) after ET. Rowing-based ET and corollary EICR appear to result in an attenuated natriuretic peptide response to maximal effort exercise. This may occur as a function of decreased cardiac wall stress after ET as seen by disproportionally higher ventricular wall thickening compared with chamber dilation. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Using longitudinal pre- and postendurance training natriuretic peptide measurements, we demonstrate that the development of exercise-induced cardiac remodeling results in an attenuated natriuretic peptide response to acute bouts of maximal intensity exercise. Exercise-induced cardiac remodeling was associated with a disproportionally higher ventricular wall thickening compared with chamber dilation, a pattern that reduces cardiac wall stress. These observations advance our understanding of both the structural and biochemical adaptations that underlie the cardiovascular response to endurance training.

Context: To share clinicopathological data of thyroid carcinoma from a high volume Tertiary Care Centre in East India. Aim: To share the epidemiology and clinicopathological presentation of thyroid cancer at a high volume Tertiary Care Center in East India. Settings and Design: Retrospective observational study. Subjects and Methods: Forty-two consecutive patients of thyroid neoplasm diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and primarily underwent surgical treatment from July 2005 to June 2012 were included. Retrospective data analyses of patient's records were done. Statistical Analysis Used: The statistical analysis was performed using Epi Info version 3.5.3. Results: Forty-two patients underwent surgery for thyroid neoplasm. Median age of diagnosis was 39 years. It was 6 times more common in females (female:male - 6:1). Papillary carcinoma consists of 63.15%, follicular carcinoma consists of 23.68%, and medullary carcinoma and anaplastic carcinoma each consist of 5.26% of malignant cases. Out of them, lymph node metastases were seen in 17 patients (44.73%). FNAC shows positive predictive value of 89.74%. Conclusions: In our study, differentiated thyroid cancers were found to be more common in younger age group. Cervical lymph node metastases occur in a large number of patients. Central compartment lymph node dissection with exploration of lateral neck and modified neck dissection whenever needed is helpful in all cases of thyroid carcinoma for proper pathological staging. FNAC is rapid and efficient procedure with high positive predictive value in diagnosing thyroid neoplastic lesions.

We report a rare case of Pseudomonas stutzeri endophthalmitis in an immunocompetent individual along with the review of the literature. A 39-year-old healthy lady presented with sudden painful loss of vision in her right eye. She was diagnosed with postcataract surgery acute endophthalmitis and underwent vitrectomy, intraocular lens explantation and intravitreal antibiotics. P. stutzeri was isolated from vitreous. Though the infection was controlled, the anatomy of the eye could not be salvaged and the right eye became phthisical. P. stutzeri is a rare cause of endophthalmitis with usually poor outcomes.

Inferior vena cava filters are commonly placed for a variety of indications, often when anticoagulation is contraindicated. Although technical success is high and complication rates low, there are complications that are important to be aware of. We present the case of a 29-year-old woman with a prolonged filter dwell time resulting in complications.

Congenital abnormalities of the pericardium are a rare group of disorders that include congenital absence of the pericardium, pericardial cysts, and diverticula. These congenital defects result from alterations in the embryologic formation and structure of the pericardium. Although many cases are incidentally found, they can present as symptomatic, life-threatening disease. Owing to their rarity, many cases are inappropriately diagnosed. Alterations in the embryologic formation and structure may result in the formation of these congenital abnormalities. We review the presentation, diagnosis, and management of congenital absence of the pericardium, pericardial cysts, and diverticula. A summary of multimodality imaging features is provided.

Severe neurological complications are associated with falciparum malaria. We describe the case of an eight-year-old male child with severe falciparum malaria with high-level parasitemia and severe thrombocytopenia. There were features of abnormal gait, speech difficulty and altered behavior pattern during the recovery phase. This occurred even after receiving antimalarial therapy. MRI showed bilateral cerebellar atrophy.

Heart failure is characterized by recurrent decompensations and persistent symptoms that decrease quality of life. Shortness of breath and fatigue are commonly identified symptoms but there is limited data on pain in heart failure patients. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) was used to identify the prevalence and severity of pain and other symptoms experienced by patients with acute decompensated heart failure.This is a cross-sectional study that evaluated patients with a history of chronic heart failure admitted to the hospital with acute decompensated heart failure. A standardized questionnaire (ESAS) was administered to patients within 24 hours of hospital admission. Exclusion criteria included patients18 years of age, admission for a noncardiac reason, active malignancy, history of chronic pain, outpatient chronic pain medication use, and those actively followed by the palliative care service.One hundred patients, 67 males, with a mean age of 58 ± 17 years were recruited. The mean ejection fraction (EF) was 37%± 18%. Sixty patients (60%) reported pain of any degree. Patients with lower EF (≤ 40%, n=61) reported significantly higher pain scores (4.1 ± 3.6) compared to patients with higher EF (40%, n=36, 2.7 ± 3.4, p0.05). Tiredness, shortness of breath, and decreased well-being were the most severe symptoms with mean scores of 6.3 ± 2.8, 6.1 ± 3.1, and 5.7 ± 2.6, respectively.Pain is a common, underrecognized symptom in patients with chronic but acute decompensated heart failure. Decreased well-being, shortness of breath, and tiredness are the most common and severe symptoms in patients with chronic heart failure, regardless of ejection fraction.

Altitude plays an important role in cardiovascular performance and training for athletes. Whether it is mountaineers, skiers, or sea-level athletes trying to gain an edge by training or living at increased altitude, there are many potential benefits and harms of such endeavors. Echocardiographic studies done on athletes at increased altitude have shown evidence for right ventricular dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension, but no change in left ventricular ejection fraction. In addition, 10% of athletes are susceptible to pulmonary hypertension and high-altitude pulmonary edema. Some studies suggest that echocardiography may be able to identify athletes susceptible to high-altitude pulmonary edema prior to competing or training at increased altitudes. Further research is needed on the long-term effects of altitude training, as repeated, transient episodes of pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular dysfunction may have long-term implications. Current literature suggests that performance athletes are not at higher risk for ventricular arrhythmias when training or competing at increased altitudes. For sea-level athletes, the optimal strategy for attaining the benefits while minimizing the harms of altitude training still needs to be clarified, although-for now-the "live high, train low" approach appears to have the most rationale.

A 67-year-old man required permanent pacemaker placement for sick sinus syndrome. The procedure revealed an anomalous course of the guide wire from the left cephalic vein directly into the coronary sinus (CS) with poorly visualized right-sided anatomy on venogram. Echocardiography demonstrated a dilated CS. Injection of agitated saline into the left basilic vein demonstrated opacification of the CS followed immediately by the right heart chamber ( Panel A ). Agitated saline was then injected into the right basilic vein which also filled the …

Background/purpose Preoperative embolization of head, neck, and spinal tumors is frequently used to control tumor bleeding, reduce operative time, and achieve better resection. Numerous embolic materials have been used. The use of the liquid embolic agent Onyx is rapidly increasing but current experience is limited to small case series. Our purpose was to evaluate the indications, techniques, angiographic devascularization, blood loss, outcome, and general efficacy of preoperative tumor embolization with Onyx in a large series. Methods Retrospective analysis of 100 consecutive cases of head, neck, and spinal tumors embolized with Onyx and prospective follow-up. Results 100 patients (63 women, 37 men) were included. Tumors included 39 meningiomas, 23 metastases, 16 parangliomas, five juvenile nasal angiofibromas, five giant cell bone tumors, three Ewing9s sarcomas, three hemangiomas, three hemangioblastomas, two multiple myelomas, and one osteoblastoma. In all patients, angiographic analysis of the feeding arteries and branches was performed and all embolizations were completed in a single session. Additional materials were used in 28 patients. No mortality or major complications were observed. Minor complications were seen in 11 patients. 85 patients underwent surgery; 79 within the next 48 h and six of them 4–188 days after embolization. Conclusions Embolization of intracranial, head, neck, and spinal tumors with Onyx is effective and safe by a transarterial route or by direct puncture. Onyx penetrates well into the tumor capillary with less arterial catheterization. Studies are necessary to establish long term utility in adjunct or palliative tumor embolization.

OBJECTIVE: To experimentally study the effects of altering implant length, outer diameter, cortical bone thickness, and cortical bone density on the primary stability of orthodontic miniscrew implants (MSIs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Maximum insertion torque (IT) and pullout strength (POS) of 216 MSIs were measured in synthetic bone with different cortical densities (0.64 g/cc or 0.55 g/cc) and cortical thicknesses (1 mm or 2 mm). Three MSIs were evaluated: 6-mm long/1.75-mm outer diameter, 3-mm long/1.75-mm outer diameter, and 3-mm long/2.0-mm outer diameter. To test POS, a vertical force was applied at the rate of 5 mm/min until failure occurred. RESULTS: The 6-mm MSIs displayed significantly (P < .001) higher IT and POS than the 3-mm MSIs did. The 3-mm MSIs with 2.0-mm outer diameters showed significantly higher (P < .001) IT and POS than the 3-mm MSIs with 1.75-mm outer diameters. The IT and POS were significantly (P < .001) greater for the MSIs placed in thicker and denser cortical bone. CONCLUSION: Both outer diameter and length affect the stability of MSIs. Increases in cortical bone thickness and cortical bone density increase the primary stability of the MSIs.

Background: Incidence rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) in New Zealand rank among the highest worldwide. Internationally, there has been evidence of a shift in colon cancer from left- to right-sided. The objective of this study was to determine trends in left- and right-sided colon and rectal cancers incidence by sex, age and ethnicity. Methods: Using datasets created by linking data from the New Zealand Cancer Registry to the census data, we analysed a total of 47 694 CRCs from 1981 to 2004. Cancers were divided into right-sided colon (cecum to the splenic flexure); left-sided colon (descending and sigmoid colon); and rectal (rectosigmoid junction and rectum). Results: Left- and right-sided colon, and rectal cancer incidence rates increased by 13‐20% among men. In women, colon cancer rates increased by 25% for right-sided cancers, decreased by 8% for left-sided cancers and remained unchanged for rectal cancers. This corresponds with an increase in right-sided cancers from 57% to 65% of total colon cancers in women. The incidence of all CRCs increased at a faster rate

e24137Background: Immunotherapy is revolutionizing the treatment of many malignancies. Trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of image guided (IG) intratumoral injection (ITI) of immunotherapy a...

Tennis leg is caused by a rupture of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle, usually at its distal musculotendinous junction region. However, tears in this muscle and its tendon are also included under the term ′tennis leg′. It is seen regularly in practice and is an important cause of a painful calf. The common USG findings include: disruption of the pinnate pattern of the distal medial gastrocnemius, usually near the junction of the triceps surae (which is the echogenic line between the gastrocnemius, the soleus, and the plantaris muscles), fluid tracking along the fascia, adjacent hematoma, and intramuscular tears as well as hematomas. USG is useful for confirming the diagnosis, excluding other causes of a painful calf, for assessing the severity of the disease, and in follow-up.

Pericardial defects are a rare disorder that can be characterized as acquired or congenital. Congenital defects can be further characterized by location and size of the defect, e.g. left- or right-sided and partial or complete absence of the pericardium. While physical examination and electrocardiogram are not diagnostic, chest radiographs and echocardiography have findings that should alert the clinician to the absence of the pericardium as a possible diagnosis. Despite its limitations with visualizing the normal pericardium in areas of minimal adipose, cardiac magnetic resonance is currently the gold standard for diagnosing the congenital absence of the pericardium. Patients have a similar life expectancy to those without pericardial defects; however in certain cases, herniation and strangulation of cardiac chambers can be life threatening and lead to sudden cardiac death. Treatment is tailored to the patient's symptoms, presentation, and the size and location of the defect.

Acute chest pain is one of the most common reasons for presentation to the emergency department. Although most etiologies of chest pain are easy to clinically ascertain with routine history, physical, and laboratory examinations, we present an important benign cause of acute chest pain that may mimic acute coronary syndrome.

Heart failure (HF) is the most common reason for hospital admission for patients older than 65 years. With an aging population and improving survival in heart failure patients, the number of people living with HF continues to grow. As this population increases, the importance of treating symptoms of fatigue, dyspnea, pain, and depression that diminish the quality of life in HF patients becomes increasingly important. Palliative care has been shown to help alleviate these symptoms and improve patients' satisfaction with the care they receive. Despite this growing body of evidence, palliative care consultation remains underutilized and is not standard practice in the management of HF. With an emphasis on communication, symptom management, and coordinated care, palliative care provides an integrated approach to support patients and families with chronic illnesses. Early communication with patients and families regarding the unpredictable nature of HF and the increased risk of sudden cardiac death enables discussions around advanced care directives, health care proxies, and deactivation of permanent pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators. Cardiologists and primary care physicians who are comfortable initiating these discussions are encouraged to do so; however, many fear destroying hope and are uncertain how to discuss end-of-life issues. Thus, in order to facilitate these discussions and establish an appropriate relationship, we recommend that patients and families be introduced to a palliative care team at the earliest appropriate time after diagnosis.

Introduction: Infection associated with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt is a severe complication with a high morbidity and substantial mortality. There are no guidelines to choose antibiotics in case of shunt infection. Most surgeons use antibiotics of their choice whereas limited centres follow their own antibiotic policy. An alarming increase in antibiotic resistance has led to rising morbidity and mortality. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery between January 2010 and December 2015 at our institution. Shunt tubes and cerebrospinal fluid were sent for culture and sensitivity in patients who were suspected clinically of having shunt tube infections. The processing of the samples was done by standard techniques, and the identification of the organism along with its sensitivity pattern was performed using Vitek 2 system. Results: A total of 1186 ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgeries were performed during this period at our institute in patients of all age groups. There were 757 (63.8%) male and 429 (36.2%) female patients. A total of 156 samples of patients were sent for culture and sensitivity during this period, out of which 79 (50.6%) samples had growth of an organism either in the cerebrospinal fluid [36 (23.1%)], shunt tubing [16 (10.2%)], or in both [27 (17.3%)]. The most common organisms grown in the cultures were Staphylococcus aureus [65 (82.3%)] or coagulase-negative Staphylococcus [22 (25.3%)] in the Gram-positive group and Escherichia coli [17 (21.5%)] in the Gram-negative group. Over the last 6 years, the sensitivity pattern of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria has shown alarming decreasing sensitivity for various commonly used antibiotics. Conclusion: Ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection has become an important concern in cases of hydrocephalus. Due to the development of a high proportion of antibiotic resistance, we recommend an empirical therapy of antibiotic therapy for prophylaxis and suspected infection in ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery.

To evaluate the prevalence and severity of pain in patients with chronic stable heart failure (HF) in an outpatient clinic setting.This is a cross-sectional study evaluating symptoms of generalized or specific pain in patients with chronic stable heart failure. A standardized questionnaire (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System) was administered during a routine outpatient clinic visit. The severity of pain and other symptoms were assessed on a 10 point scale with 10 being the worst and 0 representing no symptoms.Sixty-two patients [age 56 ± 13 years, 51 males, 11 females, mean ejection fraction (EF) 33% ± 17%] completed the assessment. Thirty-two patients (52%) reported any pain of various character and location such as chest, back, abdomen or the extremities, with a mean pain score of 2.5 ± 3.1. Patients with an EF less than 40% (n = 45, 73%) reported higher pain scores than patients with an EF greater than 40% (n = 17, 27%), scores were 3.1 ± 3.3 vs 1.2 ± 1.9, P0.001. Most frequent symptoms were tiredness (in 75% of patients), decreased wellbeing (84%), shortness of breath (SOB, 76%), and drowsiness (70%). The most severe symptom was tiredness with a score of 4.0 ± 2.8, followed by decreased wellbeing (3.7 ± 2.7), SOB (3.6 ± 2.8), and drowsiness (2.8 ± 2.8).Pain appears to be prevalent and significantly affects quality of life in HF patients. Adequate pain assessment and management should be an integral part of chronic heart failure management.

Heart failure (HF) in its chronic form is an irreversible and progressive disease. Palliative care (PC) interventions have traditionally been focused on patients with advanced cancer. We performed a pilot study to assess the feasibility of implementing the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines for early PC intervention in patients with advanced HF who were seeking or received potentially curative therapies.Twenty consecutive patients with advanced HF referred to PC from the heart transplant service with stage D, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV symptoms were analyzed retrospectively in a tertiary care setting. Data were reviewed to assess the clinical impact of PC intervention. Feedback was obtained to assess satisfaction of the patients, their families, and the health care professionals. An independent assessment of the impact of the PC service in the care of each patient was performed by a cardiologist and PC physician by use of a scoring system.Twenty consecutive patients with HF were analyzed. PC consult was obtained for a variety of reasons. All patients complained of a high symptom burden. PC consultation resulted in a decrease in the use of opioids and increased patient satisfaction. Patients and their family members generally reported improved holistic care, continuity of care, more focused goals of care, and improved planning of treatment courses. The nonstandardized scoring system used to determine the impact of the PC service showed an average of moderate to significant impact when assessed by both a cardiologist and a PC physician.PC consultation appears to be beneficial in the treatment and quality of life of advanced HF patients, independent of their prognosis. This pilot study demonstrated feasibility and sufficient evidence of clinical benefit to warrant a larger randomized clinical trial assessing the benefit of standard involvement by PC in patients with advanced HF, independent of the patient's prognosis or treatment goals.

A 62-year-old man with alcoholic cirrhosis was admitted for acute on chronic pancreatitis. During his last admission 3 months before, a CT scan had showed ascites as well as a 5.0-cm high-density posterior pancreatic tail fluid collection communicating with high-density material between the aorta and left renal vein (Fig. 1). The patient refused further workup and was discharged home. During this next admission, CT angiography showed an 8.6-cm partially thrombosed splenic artery pseudoaneurysm at the pancreatic tail and a subcapsular splenic fluid collection (Fig. 2). While awaiting intervention, the patient suddenly became pale and hypotensive. He died from a ruptured pseudoaneurysm leading to hemorrhage and acute hemodynamic collapse. Splenic artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication of pancreatitis and pancreatic pseudocysts. Other etiologies include peptic ulcer disease, trauma, and complications of surgical exploration. Release of pancreatic enzymes results in autodigestion of the vessel wall. Risk of rupture can be as high as 37%, with a mortality rate approaching 90% when untreated1. Early diagnosis and urgent treatment are imperative regardless of size or symptoms. Pseudoaneurysms may be mistaken for pseudocysts or other peripancreatic fluid collections on CT scan. High density within peripancreatic fluid collections should raise the suspicion of blood. Angiography offers a definitive diagnosis. Treatment options include transcatheter embolization, splenectomy with or without distal pancreatectomy, or splenic artery ligation alone. In our case, the patient likely had a pseudocyst with a concomitant bleeding pseudoaneurysm. The pseudoaneurysm progressed in size and led to fatal rupture. Figure 1 CT scan depicting a 5.0-cm high-density posterior pancreatic tail fluid collection communicating with high-density materialbetween the aorta and left renal vein. Figure 2 CT angiography depicting an 8.6-cm partially thrombosed splenic artery pseudoaneurysm at the pancreatic tail and a subcapsular splenic fluid collection.

Peripheral ossifying fibroma “a gingival nodule which is composed of a cellular fibroblastic connective tissue stroma which is associated with the formation of randomly dispersed foci of mineralised products, which consists of bone, cementum-like tissue, or a dystrophic calcification. The lesion is considered part of an ossifying fibroma, but that is usually considered to be a gnathic tumor. Pyogenic granuloma (also known as a "Eruptive hemangioma", "Granulation tissue-type hemangioma", "Granuloma gravidarum", "Lobular capillary hemangioma", "Pregnancy tumor” and “Tumor of pregnancy” is a vascular lesion that occurs on both mucosa and skin, and appears as an overgrowth of tissue due to irritation, physical trauma or hormonal factors. It is often found to involve the gums, the skin and nasal septum, and has also been found far from the head such as in the thigh. This article highlights a peculiar case presentation about both one lesion mimicked the other and how the diagnosis was finally made by ruling out one lesion.

A woman in her early 70s presented with chest pain, dyspnoea and diaphoresis 30 min after her husband expired in our hospital. Cardiac markers were elevated and there were acute changes in ECG suggestive for acute coronary syndrome. Echocardiogram showed apical akinesis, basal segment hyperkinesis with an ejection fraction of 30%. Cardiac catheterisation was performed showing non-obstructive coronary arteries, leading to the diagnosis of stress-induced cardiomyopathy. The patient improved with medical management. Repeat echocardiogram 2 months later showed resolution of heart failure with an ejection fraction of 65-70%.