Familial recurring cardiac myxoma

A 34-year-old woman presented with her fourth occurrence of an atrial myxoma and a right lower lung field mass. Her surgical history was extensive. In addition to resection of three previous atrial myxomas, she had undergone resection of her adrenal glands as a teenager because of Cushing's syndrome, and a hysterectomy at age 26 revealed a myxoid leiomyoma. Family history was remarkable as a maternal uncle and daughter died from embolic complications of left atrial myxomas and her sister previously had a left atrial myxoma resected. The patient underwent uncomplicated removal of the myxoma, and resection of the lung mass revealed a granuloma. A review of typical and atypical aspects of cardiac myxomas is provided including a rare and recently described syndrome of familial cardiac myxoma associated with Cushing's syndrome, spotty skin pigmentation and other myxoid tumors.     

Platelet function studies in coronary artery disease. X. Effect of dipyridamole

To evaluate the effects of dipyridamole on blood platelet function in patients with coronary artery disease, platelet counts and aggregation were examined in aortic and coronary venous blood. Before administration of dipyridamole, platelet counts and aggregation in response to adenosine diphosphate were less (p <0.02) in coronary venous than in aortic blood. Dipyridamole administration (100 mg) resulted in an increase in platelet counts and platelet aggregation in coronary venous blood so that the differences in aortic and coronary venous blood values were eliminated. These phenomena were probably related to inhibitory actions of dipyridamole. on platelet adhesion to atherosclerotic vessels. To further study the mechanism of action, the direct effects of dipyridamole on in vitro platelet aggregation were evaluated. Although dipyridamole, in the concentrations used, had no effect on in vitro platelet aggregation, it greatly potentiated the aggregation inhibitory actions of exogenous prostacyclin. In vivo potentiation of endogenous prostacyclin and inhibitory actions on platelet adhesion are the most likely mechanisms of the potentially beneficial actions of dipyridamole.     

Negative effect of lockdown on juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients

Clinical Rheumatology - The aim of this study is to evaluate a possible negative action of lockdown, during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, in the...     

Diurnal 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone pattern in human stable hypertension.

Diurnal 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone (18-OH-DOC) pattern was studied with RIA technique in 33 hypertensive patients in supine position and on normal sodium diet. The compound was evaluated every 2 h from 0800-2000 h. Simultaneously, plasma aldosterone and cortisol were measured. Abnormal 18-OH-DOC behavior was observed in only 2 out of 4 patients with Cushing's disease, while sporadic and slight elevations, synchronous with F, were seen in 5 out of 24 stable essential hypertensive patients [1 with normal plasma renin activity (PRA), 1 with low PRA, and 3 with high PRA]. 18-OH-DOC was normal in 2 cases of hypertension due to renal artery stenosis, in 1 patient with nephrosclerosis, and in 1 patient with horseshoe kidney. From these results, 18-OH-DOC does not seem to play an important pathogenetic role in stable essential hypertension, considering also the low mineralocorticoid activity of the compound.     

Intracardiac M-mode echocardiography for continuous left ventricular monitoring: method and potential application.

Because no accurate and readily applied method exists for continuous recording of left ventricular cavity dimensions and wall motion in man, we designed a catheter-mounted echocardiographic probe. The purpose of this report is to describe the instrumentation, technique, limitations, complications and preliminary observations employing the probe in humans. The echo transducer built into a cardiac allowed positioning in the right heart under fluoroscopy. The echo signals permitted continuous left ventricular cavity measurements at rest and during maneuvers. Our results suggest that intracardiac echo may be able to provide clear definition of motion patterns of the mitral valve and left ventricular walls. The ultrasonic catheter is an instrument that potentially offers a new technique for continuous monitoring of left ventricular size and motion.     

Non-alcoholic fatty liver syndrome: a hepatic consequence of common metabolic diseases

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The association of liver steatosis with a number of common metabolic conditions has been suggested. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical features of subjects with different severities of steatosis. METHODS: The present study was performed in 282 consecutive patients with 'bright liver' at ultrasonography and in 58 subjects without steatosis. They had no history of alcohol abuse and negative tests for the presence of hepatitis B and C virus. Patients underwent clinical examination, anthropometry, laboratory tests and routine liver ultrasonography. Steatosis was graded as absent, mild, moderate and severe. RESULTS: A progressive increase in the prevalence of obesity (P < 0.001), type 2 diabetes (P < 0.001), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation (P < 0.001) and hypertriglyceridemia (P < 0.001), and a decrease of hypercholesterolemia (P < 0.05) was observed from the control group to the groups with mild, moderate and severe steatosis. More than half the subjects with liver steatosis had insulin resistance metabolic syndrome. Obesity, diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia were more common by 5.3-fold, 4.0-fold, and 6.7-fold, respectively, in subjects with severe steatosis, as compared to controls. Prevalence of obesity, diabetes and hyperlipidemia was significantly higher in subjects with fatty liver and ALT elevation. CONCLUSION: Fatty liver can be considered as the hepatic consequence of common metabolic diseases.