A 19 year follow‐up of a woman with lipoprotein lipase deficiency treated with biliopancreatic diversion

We show the long‐term efficacy and safety of modified biliopancreatic diversion for the treatment of LPL‐deficiency. How this option compares with gene therapy is difficult to evaluate due to limited experience. Surgery may be the first option in patients in whom medical therapy is ineffective and gene therapy not applicable.     

Two Cases of Prenatally Diagnosed Membranous and Muscular Ventricular Septal Aneurysms

A ventricular septal aneurysm is a rare heart defect located in the muscular or membranous part of the septum. Muscular ventricular septal aneurysms are usually isolated, with a favorable prognosis. Membranous ventricular septal aneurysms are often associated with other heart anomalies, could result in serious complications, and may require surgical treatment. We describe 2 cases of prenatally diagnosed ventricular septal aneurysms: an isolated membranous ventricular septal aneurysm with a good outcome, which was initially misdiagnosed as an atrioventricular septal defect; and a muscular ventricular septal aneurysm associated with a hypoplastic aortic arch and severe hydrocephaly, which resulted in termination of the pregnancy. To our knowledge, the combination of a muscular ventricular septal aneurysm with an extracardiac anomaly has not been reported previously.     

Generation of a Novel In Vitro Model to Study Endothelial Dysfunction from Atherothrombotic Specimens

Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy - Endothelial dysfunction is central to the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome. The study of diseased endothelium is very challenging due to inherent...     

The diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and its impact on In Vitro Fertilization pregnancies. A pilot study

BackgroundIn Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is increasingly becoming a necessary mode of reproduction. This high risk group is prone to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) which further exposes these pregnancies to an increased risk of adverse outcomes. In light of the limited data in the current literature, further investigation is needed regarding the time of GDM diagnosis in IVF pregnancies as well as the outcome of IVF pregnancies complicated by GDM.MethodsIn this three center pilot cross sectional study, the data of 101 singleton IVF pregnancies complicated by GDM were analyzed. Prompt GDM diagnosis in IVF pregnancies was accomplished by self-blood glucose monitoring (SMBG) from the first antenatal visit and confirmed by an OGTT. To evaluate pregnancy outcome, maternal and fetal complications in the 101 GDM IVF group was compared to 101 IVF as well as 101 spontaneous conceptions (SC). The three groups were matched by age. The effect of demographic and glycemic parameters on the outcome of GDM IVF pregnancies was investigated.ResultsGDM diagnosis was made before the 24th week in 37.6% of the GDM IVF group. The week of delivery was earlier for the GDM IVF group (37 ± 1.7) relative to the IVF (37.9 ± 0.9, p < 0.001) and the SC group (38.1 ± 0.8, p < 0.001). GDM IVF pregnancies exhibited greater preeclampsia rates and 84.8% underwent caesarian section. No significant difference regarding LGA and SGA birth weights was found. Complications of GDM IVF pregnancies were associated with the 1-h postprandial BG (r = 0.267, p = 0.007).ConclusionGDM screening in IVF pregnancies may be considered earlier than the 24th week. IVF pregnancies affected by GDM are prone to increased maternal and fetal complications which are associated with 1-h postprandial BG.