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The SARS-CoV-2 virus is a newly emergent pathogen first identified in Wuhan, China, and responsible for the COVID-19 global pandemic. In this case report we describe a manifestation of non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis with continuous peripheral embolization in a COVID-19-positive patient. The patient responded well to high-dose LMWH treatment with cessation of the embolic process.

Objectives: Ejection fraction (EF) reaction upon exercise by radionuclide ventriculography and standard echocardiographic parameters was evaluated as predictors for post-operative left ventricular (LV) function in chronic aortic regurgitation (AR). Background: The optimal timing of surgery for chronic AR is when the left ventricle is still compensating for the volume and pressure overload without irreversible dysfunction. For asymptomatic patients when EF is normal and LV diameters are borderline, exercise testing is recommended by present guidelines. However, only a limited number of studies have been performed, and data are scarce on this subject. Methods: Radionuclide ventriculography with multiple gated acquisition at rest and during exercise was performed in 29 consecutive patients with severe chronic aortic regurgitation pre-operatively and 6 months post-operatively. Patient subgroups were formed based on pre-operative EF exercise response (ΔEF) and were categorized as decreasing (ΔEF <−5%), unaltered (−5% ≤ ΔEF ≤ 5%), and increasing (ΔEF > 5%). A 5% or higher increase was considered normal. The LV diameters and mass were measured by echocardiography. Results: Pre-operative LV diameters were markedly elevated before surgery and diminished significantly after surgery. Left ventricular diameters, LV mass, EF at rest (EFrest), and EF change from rest to exercise (ΔEF) were independent of New York Heart Association functional class. Pre-operative end-diastolic diameter proved to be a predictor for pre- and post-operative ΔEF (p = 0.003; p = 0.04) but not for the nature of the exercise response post-operatively. Patients with decreasing and unaltered EF pre-operatively presented a significantly higher but still abnormal ΔEF post-operatively. Those with increasing EF pre-operatively had a similar response and a normal ΔEF post-operatively. Pre-operative ΔEF was not only a predictor for post-operative ΔEF (p = 0.02) but also classified patients into post-operat

Background: Nonrheumatic aortic stenosis is the predominant cause of heart valve surgery in the Western world. Aortic and mitral regurgitation account for a lesser amount of the heart valve surgery. During the 1990s, inflammatory cell infiltrates have been demonstrated in nonrheumatic stenotic aortic valves. These findings suggest an inflammatory component in the pathogenesis of nonrheumatic aortic valve stenosis. However, nonrheumatic regurgitant aortic and mitral valves have not been investigated in this respect. The aim of this study was to compare nonrheumatic regurgitant aortic and mitral valves with stenotic aortic valves regarding the presence of T lymphocytes, macrophages, apolipoprotein B, and apolipoprotein A-I. Methods: Valve specimens were obtained from 42 patients referred to hospital for surgery because of significant heart valve disease. From these patients, 29 aortic stenotic valves, 9 aortic regurgitant, and 6 mitral regurgitant valves, all nonrheumatic, were obtained for the study. Fourteen valves collected from subjects undergoing clinical/medicolegal autopsy were used as control. In order to identify mononuclear inflammatory cells and apolipoproteins, sections were investigated with immunohistochemical analyses and then categorized semiquantitatively. Results: Regurgitant and control valves showed a significantly lower degree of inflammatory cell infiltrate and a lower degree of apolipoprotein deposition as compared to stenotic aortic valves. Conclusions: The signs of inflammation seen in nonrheumatic aortic stenosis are not prominent features in the nonrheumatic, regurgitant valves. This is consistent with the multi-factorial pathogenesis of these conditions.

The embedding of bacteria in the vegetation of infective endocarditis impedes the penetration of phagocytic cells. IL-8 has a stimulating effect on the immune system, particularly with respect to chemotaxis and activation of granulocytes. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-) is 1 of the major proinflammatory cytokines. IL-8 and TNF- were visualized by means of immunohistochemistry in paraffin-embedded heart valve biopsies from 6 patients with infective endocarditis who required cardiac surgery during the active phase of the infection. In 5/6 patients there were signs of inflammation, and in these patients IL-8- and TNF- -containing cells were visualized in the heart valve stromas or vegetations. The largest numbers of IL-8-containing cells, and the greatest amount of inflammation, were seen in patients with short preoperative treatment courses. No such relationships were seen with respect to TNF- -containing cells. These observations may suggest that the occurrence of IL-8-containing cells in infected heart valves could be used as a marker of disease activity.

Background: The two most common causes of aortic stenosis are primary "degenerative" calcification of tricuspid aortic valves and secondary calcification of congenital bicuspid valves. T lymphocyte infiltration occurs in stenotic tricuspid aortic valves, indicating an inflammatory component, but it has not been shown whether it also occurs in stenotic bicuspid valves. Objective: To compare non-rheumatic tricuspid and bicuspid stenotic aortic valves for the presence and distribution of T lymphocytes. Setting: University hospital. Patients and design: Valve specimens were obtained from 29 patients (15 women, 14 men, mean age 69 years (range 52–81 years)), referred to the hospital for aortic valve replacement because of symptomatic aortic valve stenosis. There were 17 tricuspid valves (from 10 women and seven men, mean age 71 years) and 12 bicuspid valves (from five women and seven men, mean age 67 years). To identify mononuclear inflammatory cells, sections were stained with antibodies for CD3 (pan-T cell antigen, Dako 1:400) and then graded histologically according to the degree of T cell infiltrate. Results: T lymphocyte infiltration was present in both tricuspid and bicuspid stenotic aortic valves, without any significant differences in extent or localisation. Conclusions: Stenotic bicuspid aortic valves show the same degree of T lymphocyte infiltration as degenerative tricuspid aortic valves. Inflammation needs to be considered in the pathogenesis of acquired aortic stenosis, irrespective of the primary valve anomaly.

[No abstract available]

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new pneumatic compression device for achieving haemostasis after femoral artery catheterization, 1,017 patients undergoing selective coronary angiography by a SF unilateral femoral route were prospectively randomised to pneumatic or the routinely used clamp compression technique. All initial bleedings could be controlled in the pneumatic group, whereas in 38 patients (8%) of the clamp group the initial positioning of the clamp was unsuccessful or was not tolerated by the patient (p less than 0.05). Ultrasound Doppler study of the puncture site because of suspected postcatheterization vascular complication revealed two haematomas which needed no further measure and two pseudoaneurysms which were successfully treated with ultrasound-guided compression or surgical repair. The rate of complications requiring treatment (pseudoaneurysms) was 0.2% overall, 0.5% in the clamp group and nil in the pneumatic compression group (NS). We conclude that the pneumatic compression device is effective, convenient and at least as safe as the clamp and, by shortening the time in the catheterization laboratory, offers time for further angiograms.

Background: Clinical signs of heart failure such as pulmonary rales and dyspnea, ventricular dysfunction, and ventricular arrhythmia are independent predictors of a poor prognosis after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Hypothesis: The study aimed to assess the effect of ramipril treatment on mildly depressed left ventricular (LV) systolic function, assessed by atrioventricular (AV) plane displacement in patients with congestive heart failure after AMI. Methods: The study was a substudy in the Acute Infarction Ramipril Efficacy Study, a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of ramipril versus placebo in patients with symptoms of heart failure after AMI. In all, 56 patients were included in the main study, 4 refused to participate in the substudy, and 4 were excluded for logistical reasons. Echocardiography was performed at entry and after 6 months. Patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting during the follow-up period were excluded. Results: At baseline, the patients had modest LV dysfunction, and mean AV plane displacement of 9.7 mm. During follow-up, AV plane displacement increased in ramipril-treated patients from 9.5 to 10.9 mm (p<0.01). No statistically significant changes were seen in the placebo group. Conclusions: Ramipril improves LV systolic function in patients with clinical signs of heart failure and only modest systolic dysfunction after AMI. Measurement of AV plane displacement is a simple and reproducible method for detection of small changes in systolic function and may be used instead of ejection fraction in patients with poor image quality.

Congestive heart failure is a common and complex syndrome with a poor prognosis. Although heart disease is usually the primary event, the clinical syndrome is characterised by several extra-cardiac manifestations. Neurohormonal activation seems to play a crucial role for these manifestations and the progression of the disease. Twenty-seven consecutive patients with acute left ventricular heart failure were found to have increased plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide, arginine vasopressin and catecholamines, while the renin-angiotensin system was not activated until diuretic therapy was introduced. To counteract this activation it seems suitable to combine the diuretics with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Skeletal muscle biopsies were performed in 22 patients participating in the CONSENSUS trial, which was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril on mortality in patients with severe congestive heart failure. The biopsies revealed decreased content of magnesium andpotassium while sodium and water were retained in skeletal muscle. Ventricular arrhythmias occurred frequently. The ventricular arrhythmias seemed to be related to lower serum levels of potassium, but no significant correlations were found to muscle electrolyte content. This may indicate that the ratio of electrolytes across the cell membrane is moreimportant for the development of arrhythmias than changes in the absolute amount of electrolytes are. The muscle biopsies also revealed metabolic derangement with decreased content of energy-rich compunds, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP), phosphocreatine and glycogen,Treatment with enalapril did not seem to influence these peripheral abnormalities, but some beneficial effect was found regarding the prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias. In another 22 patients with severe congestive heart failure, similar signs of energy depletion were found in skel, Papers, included in the Ph.D. thesis, are not registered and included in the posts from 1999 and backwards.