Right‐Sided Endomyocardial Fibrosis with a Right Atrial Thrombus: Three‐Dimensional Transthoracic Echocardiographic Evaluation

Endomyocardial fibrosis is a form of restrictive cardiomyopathy mainly affecting poor children and young adults in geographically restricted areas of Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. The pathophysiological hallmark of the disease is focal or diffuse endocardial thickening involving mainly the inflow, the apices, and the subvalvular region leading to valvular regurgitation, diastolic dysfunction and obliteration of the ventricular apex. Advanced right‐sided disease has slow flow of blood through chambers with propensity of thrombus formation especially in the right atria. Although two‐dimensional transthoracic echocardiography remains the cornerstone for the diagnosis of this disease, the case presented here shows how three‐dimensional transthoracic echocardiography can add substantial information regarding the region of involvement of the right ventricle as well as the various characteristics of the right atrial thrombus.     

Autologous Therapies in Dermatology

Autologous therapy is a therapeutic intervention that uses an individual’s cells or tissues, which are processed outside the body, and reintroduced into the donor. This emerging field presently represents a mere tip of the iceberg with much knowledge and applications yet to be discovered. It, being free from risks of hypersensitivity reactions and transmission of infectious agents, has been explored in various fields, such as plastic surgery, orthopedics, and dermatology. This review article focuses on various forms of autologous therapies used in dermatology along with their applications and mechanisms of action.Autologous therapy is a novel therapeutic intervention that uses an individual’s cells or tissues, which are processed outside the body and reintroduced into the donor. Currently, this form of therapy has broad applications in modern medicine, orthopedics, and therapeutic and cosmetic dermatology.     

A Web-Based Survey of Oculoplastic Surgeons Regarding the Management of Lower Lid Retraction

Purpose: To survey the opinion of oculoplastic surgeons on the assessment and management of lower eyelid retraction (LLR).

Methods: A web-based survey queried oculoplastic surgeon members of Ojoplast, Spanish and Brazilian Oculoplastic Societies on the management of LLR. The frequency and percentage proportions of the responses were analyzed.

Results: One hundred ninety-six oculoplastic surgeons participated in the survey. The main cause of LLR is post-blepharoplasty (62;31.6%). The most used sign to detect LLR is scleral show. The most common approaches to managing LLR are lateral canthal surgery (164/593;27.6%), autogenous spacers (148/593; 24.9%) and retractor release (131/593;22.1%). The preferred autogenous graft material includes ear cartilage (102/260;39.2%). The majority of surgeons (161/314; 51.3%) recommend massage or steroids injection (80/314;25.5%) for early post-blepharoplasty LLR, while, 54.1% (106/196) of participants suggested waiting for at least six months prior to surgical intervention. Frost suture is used after most LLR surgeries (154/196;91.1%). Incomplete correction is the main complication (111/310;35.8%) of LLR surgery. For mild LLR, 48% of the responders prefer clinical treatment; conversely, severe cases routinely require combined surgical techniques.

Conclusions: Oculoplastic surgeons frequently diagnose LLR based on scleral show. LLR management depends on the cause and severity of lid retraction. Mild cases, in general, receive clinical treatment and severe cases need a combination of surgical techniques and grafts.     

Identification and Characterization of Hydrolytic Degradation Products of Cefditoren Pivoxil using LC and LC-MS/TOF

The present research work was carried out to determine stability of cefditoren pivoxil, an orally absorbed prodrug that is rapidly hydrolysed by intestinal esterases to the active cephalosporin cefditoren. Cefditoren was subjected to stress conditions recommended by the International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use guideline Q1A (R2). Cefditoren pivoxil was susceptible for degradation under acidic, alkaline and neutral hydrolytic conditions while it was stable under photolytic and thermal stress conditions. Separation of cefditoren and degradation products were carried out by using HPLC. The unknown degradation products were characterized by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/time of flight studies. Structures were proposed for each fragment based on best possible molecular formula and complete degradation pathways were reported for cefditoren and its degradants.     

Percutaneous Fetal Atrial Balloon Septoplasty for Simple Transposition of the Great Arteries With an Intact Atrial Septum

We report the first ultrasonographically guided percutaneous balloon atrial septoplasty (BAS), to our knowledge, in a fetus with transposition of the great arteries and an intact ventricular and atrial septum (37 + 2 weeks). After vaginal delivery at 38 weeks, the infant had an elective septostomy (day 1) and an arterial switch procedure (day 7), with an uneventful postoperative course. For centres with experience in fetal cardiac interventions, fetal BAS is a superior management option compared with the alternatives for this high-risk physiology.     

Insights from CREDENCE trial indicate an acute drop in estimated glomerular filtration rate during treatment with canagliflozin with implications for clinical practice

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Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is an important etiology of nonatherosclerotic acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction, and sudden death. Innovations in the catheterization laboratory including optical coherence tomography and intravascular ultrasound have enhanced the ability to visualize intimal disruption and intramural hematoma associated with SCAD. Formerly considered “rare,” these technological advances and heightened awareness suggest that SCAD is more prevalent than prior estimates. SCAD is associated with female sex, young age, extreme emotional stress, or extreme exertion, pregnancy, and fibromuscular dysplasia. The clinical characteristics and management strategies of SCAD patients are different than for atherosclerotic heart disease and deserve specific consideration. This review will highlight recent discoveries about SCAD as well as describe current efforts to elucidate remaining gaps in knowledge.