Cardiovascular magnetic resonance of cardiac tumors and masses

Cardiac masses diagnosis and treatment are a true challenge, although they are infrequently encountered in clinical practice. They encompass a broad set of lesions that include neoplastic (primary and secondary), non-neoplastic masses and pseudomasses. The clinical presentation of cardiac tumors is highly variable and depends on several factors such as size, location, relation with other structures and mobility. The presumptive diagnosis is made based on a preliminary non-invasive diagnostic work-up due to technical difficulties and risks associated with biopsy, which is still the diagnostic gold standard. The findings should always be interpreted in the clinical context to avoid misdiagnosis, particularly in specific conditions (e.g., infective endocarditis or thrombi). The modern multi-modality imaging techniques has a key role not only for the initial assessment and differential diagnosis but also for management and surveillance of the cardiac masses. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) allows an optimal non-invasive localization of the lesion, providing multiplanar information on its relation to surrounding structures. Moreover, with the additional feature of tissue characterization, CMR can be highly effective to distinguish pseudomasses from masses, as well as benign from malignant lesions, with further differential diagnosis of the latter. Although histopathological assessment is important to make a definitive diagnosis, CMR plays a key role in the diagnosis of suspected cardiac masses with a great impact on patient management. This literature review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of cardiac masses, from clinical and imaging protocol to pathological findings.     

Multimodality imaging in COVID-19 patients: A key role from diagnosis to prognosis

The integrated clinical, laboratory and ultrasound approach is essential for the diagnosis, evaluation and monitoring of the patient's therapy in coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia. The ideal imaging approach in this context is not yet well defined. Chest X-ray is characterized by low sensitivity in identifying earlier lung changes. The "bedside" pulmonary ultrasound has an undeniable series of advantages in the patient at high infectious risk and can provide incremental data in the respiratory intensive care for the serial control of the individual patient as well as for the home delivery of the stabilized subjects. Pulmonary computed tomography shows high sensitivity but should not be routinely performed in all patients, because in the first 48 h it can be absolutely negative and in the late phase the imaging findings may not change the therapeutic approach. Echocardiography should be limited to patients with hemodynamic instability to assess ventricular function and pulmonary pressures.     

Triggers of histologically suspected drug-induced colitis

BACKGROUND Drug toxicity is a common and even serious problem in the gastrointestinal tract that is thought to be caused by a broad spectrum of agents.Although withdrawal of the causative agent would cure the disease knowledge is scarce and mostly derives from case reports and series.AIM To investigate potential triggers of drug-induced colitis(DiC).METHODS We conducted a retrospective,observational case control study.Patients were assigned to DiC or one of two age-and gender-matched control groups(noninflammatory controls and inflammatory colitis of another cause)based on histopathological findings.Histopathology was reassessed in a subset of patients(28 DiC with atherosclerosis,DiC without atherosclerosis and ischaemic colitis each)for validation purposes.Medical history was collected from the electronic database and patient records.Statistical analysis included chi-squared test,t-test,logistic and multivariate regression models.RESULTS Drug-induced colitis was detected in 211 endoscopically sampled biopsy specimens of the colon mucosa(7%of all screened colonoscopic biopsy samples);a total of 633 patients were included equally matched throughout the three groups(291 males,mean age:62.1±16.1 years).In the univariate analysis,DiC was associated with diuretics,dihydropyridines,glycosides,ASS,platelet aggregation inhibitors,nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs),statins and fibrates,and with atherosclerosis,particularly coronary heart disease,and hyperlipoproteinaemia.Echocardiographic parameters did not show substantial differences.In the multivariate analysis only fibrates[odds ratio(OR)=9.1],NSAIDs(OR=6.7)and atherosclerosis(OR=2.1)proved to be associated with DiC.Both DiC reassessment groups presented milder inflammation than ischaemic colitis.The DiC patients with atherosclerosis exhibited histological features from both DiC without atherosclerosis and ischaemic colitis.CONCLUSION Several drugs indicated for the treatment of cardiovascular and related diseases are associated with DiC.Atherosclerosis and microcirculatory disturbances seem to play an important pathogenetic role.     

Reconstruction surgery in head and neck cancer patients amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: Current practice and lessons for the future

The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic has imposed a radical change in daily life and work routine. In this context, health systems have suffered important and serious repercussions in all fields. Among the changes brought about by the state of global health emergency, adjustments to guidelines, priorities, structures, professional teams, and epidemiological data stand out. In light of this, the oncological field has witnessed several changes in the approach to cancer, whether due to de...     

Effect of erythropoietin on blood pressure and on the vascular endothelial ET-1/ETB receptor system

BACKGROUND: Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) increases blood pressure (BP) and the vascular production of endothelin-1 in renal failure rats. This study was designed to investigate the effect of rhEPO on BP and on the ET-1/ET(B)R system in rats with normal renal function. To further characterize the effect of rhEPO on the ET-1/ET(B)R system, we also studied heterozygous (+/-) ET(B)R knockout (KO) mice. METHODS: The animals received either the vehicle or rhEPO (100 U/kg subcutaneously three times per week). ET(B)R(+/-) mice were compared with ET(A)R(+/-) and wild-type (WT) mice. In rats, the ET(B)R mRNA expression was assessed in blood vessels as well as the vascular ET(B)R density using immunohistochemistry. In mice, ET-1 concentration was measured in the thoracic aorta. RESULTS: RhEPO administration increased hematocrit levels in all treated animals. This therapy had no effect on BP in normal rats, but it did increase vascular and renal cortex ET(B)R mRNA expression. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that the ET(B)R density was increased in blood vessel endothelium in these normal rats. In contrast, rhEPO increased BP in ET(B)R(+/-) mice and this pressor effect was associated with higher ET-1 concentrations in the thoracic aorta. CONCLUSIONS: RhEPO exerts a pleotropic effect on the endothelial ET-1/ET(B)R system. The increase in endothelial ET(B)R expression may contribute to maintaining normal BP during rhEPO administration in normal animals. Conversely, conditions with deficient ET(B)R expression, such as in ET(B)R(+/-) mice, may lead to hypertension while receiving the same therapy.     

Liver transplantation for fulminant hepatic failure in infancy: A single center experience

Abstract:  FHF is characterized by a high percentage of unknown causes leading to acute liver failure and furthermore by an increased morbidity and mortality prior to and post-Ltx. In different transplant centers, the reasons leading to FHF differ significantly as well as outcome. We report our single center experience with 30 pediatric patients receiving a liver transplant for FHF, out of a total of 83 children presenting with FHF. The time to transfer patients to the transplant center after the diagnosis of FHF was long, with a median of 14 days (Ltx group) and 12 days (controls), respectively. In nearly half of the patients (n = 14) in the Ltx group, we were not able to establish an exact diagnosis prior to Ltx: 50% suffered from encephalopathy, and 13 patients were treated in the intensive care unit prior to transplant. Because of the availability of different surgical techniques, all children received a timely transplant [split (n = 18), living donor (n = 9), whole organ (n = 2), and reduced liver (n = 1)]. Patient survival was 93.4%, and graft survival was 83.4% for at least one yr follow-up. Severe complications following Ltx included three cases with aplastic anemia and one child suffering from systemic mitochondrial depletion syndrome. The survival of patients treated medically was 83%. We conclude that a strong focus should be made on early referral to a specialized center and on improvement of diagnostic tools to timely detect the underlying reason for FHF. Results following Ltx for FHF are good.