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Abstract  A 68-year-old women was admitted with the chief complaints of epigastralgia with radiation to the back and jaundice. Fever and chills were also noted. The laboratory data showed alkaline phosphatase, 245 U/L (normal range: 28–94); Direct Bilirubin, 5.29 mg% (0–0.4); Total Bilirubin, 8.4 mg% (0.2–1.4). Surprisingly, the serum CA19-9 was 5673.8 U/ml (normal value: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although focal myxoid change is a well-recognized feature of solitary fibrous tumor (SFT), predominantly myxoid SFT are exceedingly rare. Reported herein is the case of a 65-year-old man with SFT containing abundant myxoid matrix, arising from the capsule of the right seminal vesicle. To the authors’ knowledge this is the first myxoid SFT involving the male genito-urinary system. Recognition of the myxoid variant of SFT is crucial, given possible confusion with a variety of myxoid spindle cell neoplasms with different biological potential in the pelvic cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a rare case of a central venous catheter-malposition-induced life-threatening cardiac tamponade as a result of computed tomography (CT) with contrast enhancement in an infant with a ventricular septal defect and pulmonary atresia after a modified Blalock–Taussig shunt. The diagnosis was confirmed by chest radiographs and CT study with catheter perforation through the right atrial wall and extravasation of the contrast medium into the pericardium, leading to cardiac tamponade and subsequent circulatory collapse. Two hours after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the patient gradually resumed normal hemodynamic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an unusual case of simultaneous obstruction of the left pulmonary artery and descending thoracic aorta after Gianturco coil occlusion in a 15-month-old boy. The diagnosis was made by echocardiography and cardiac angiography. At surgery, thrombi coating on the protruded parts of the Gianturco coil in the pulmonary artery and aorta were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the case of a 37-year-old gravida 2, para 2 who developed postpartum hemorrhage with concurrent massive inferior epigastric artery bleeding after cesarean section. Effectiveness of transarterial embolization; Patient response.

A correction to the article "Staging of untreated nasopharyngeal carcinoma with PET/CT: comparison with conventional imaging work-up," by Shu-Hang Ng and colleagues that was published online on August15, 2008 is presented.

Balloon angioplasty (BA) is an alternative to surgical repair for coarctation of the aorta (CoA) in children. However, its role in the treatment of native CoA in neonates and infants remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to report the midterm outcomes of BA for native CoA in neonates and infants with congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods: Between July 2000 and March 2007, 18 neonates and infants with native CoA and CHF who underwent BA were enrolled. Patients without recoarctation were designated as group A, while those with recoarctation or CHF were designated as group B. The clinical presentations, laboratory data, and outcomes were compared between groups. Results: There were 10 patients in group A and eight in group B. The mean age was 2.8 ± 3.1 months (range, 0.7–11 months). Mean body weight was 4.0 ± 1.9 kg (range, 2.1–8.0 kg). CHF improved markedly in all patients immediately after BA, with a reduction in systolic pressure gradient from 36.4 ± 12.0 to 5.6 ± 6.0 mmHg (p < 0.001). The recoarctation rate was 44% (8/18). The risk factors for restenosis were post-BA systolic pressure gradient > 10 mmHg (p = 0.007) and CoA diameter < 3 mm (p = 0.013). Conclusions: The outcomes of BA for native CoA in neonates and infants with CHF remain poor. The incidence of recoarctation is high in neonates and patients whose post-BA systolic pressure gradient is > 10 mmHg or whose CoA diameter is < 3 mm.

Background aims. We hypothesized that the long-term therapeutic effect of combined sildenafil and bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (BMDEPCs) on monocrotaline (MCT)-induced rat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is superior to either treatment alone. Methods. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 40) were equally divided into normal controls, MCT (65 mg/kg, subcutaneously) only, MCT + sildenafil (25 mg/kg/day, orally), MCT + BMDEPCs (2.0 × 106 autologous cells, intravenously) and MCT + sildenafil+ BMDEPCs. BMDEPCs and sildenafil were given on day 21 after MCT administration. Animals were sacrificed by day 90 after MCT administration. Results. The apoptotic (caspase 3, Bax) and inflammatory (tumor necrosis factor-α, matrix metalloproteinase-9) biomarkers in right ventricle and lung and pulmonary expressions of fibrotic biomarkers (transforming growth factor-β, p-Smad3) and connexin 43 protein were lower in monotherapy groups (i.e., MCT + sildenafil and MCT + BMDEPCs) and further decreased in normal controls and combined treatment groups (i.e., MCT + sildenafil + BMDEPCs) compared with untreated animals (i.e., MCT only) (all P < 0.01). Expressions of anti-fibrotic biomarkers (bone morphogenetic protein-2, p-Smad l/5) and numbers of alveolar sacs and arterioles in lung were higher in monotherapy groups and further increased in normal controls and combined treatment groups compared with untreated animals (all P < 0.005). In right ventricle, connexin 43 and α-myosin heavy chain (MHC) expressions were higher in the monotherapy groups and further elevated in normal controls and combined treatment groups compared with untreated animals, whereas β-MHC exhibited the opposite pattern (all P < 0.01). Right ventricular systolic pressure and weight were lower in the monotherapy animals and further reduced in normal controls and combined treatment groups compared with untreated animals (all P < 0.0001). Conclusions. Combined therapy with BMDEPCs and sildenafil was superior to either treatment alone in attenuating rodent MCT-induced PAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]