Cardiology Commons^™

An Assessment Of The Diagnostic Value In Syncope Workup: A Retrospective Study, Ashan T. Hatharasinghe, Kayvon Etebar, Ryan Wolsky, Hossein Akhondi, Napatkamon Ayutyanont

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Patients with syncope often undergo costly testing, despite current guidelines and data supporting the contrary.

Objective

To determine the diagnostic value through positivity rate of electrocardiogram (EKG), computed tomography (CT) of the brain, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, transthoracic echocardiogram, nuclear and pharmacologic cardiac stress test, tilt table test and carotid ultrasound in patients diagnosed with syncope.

Methods

This is a retrospective study of 10,036 adults presenting to the emergency department or hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of syncope at 8 acute care facilities in the southwest United States from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019. …

Integrating Patient-Reported Outcomes Into Clinical Genetic Testing For Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Rachele M. Hendricks-Sturrup, Robert Block, Christine Y. Lu

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and PRO measures (PROMs) are often used to help clinicians and researchers understand patients’ personal concerns, feelings, experiences, and perspectives following the implementation of an intervention. Notably, PROs and PROMs can inform health systems, health policy, and payers on the utility of clinical genetic testing based on each patient’s personal values, perspectives, and potential health behaviors subsequent to testing. In this topic synopsis, we discuss the underexplored role of and implications for PROs and PROMs following genetic testing for familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), an autosomal dominant genetic disorder of cholesterol metabolism that can lead to highly premature fatal …

Mental Health Or Cardiac Health. Is There A Reason To Choose? Cardiac Arrhythmias Induced By Atomoxetine And Methylphenidate, Gabriel Cismaru, Viorel Lupu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

The current treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity consists mainly in the administration of Straterra (Atomoxetine) Concerta and Ritalin (Methylphenidate). The FDA warned that the products might increase systolic, diastolic blood pressure, and lead to ventricular arrhythmias. Arrhythmic events and sudden cardiac death were described in adults with preexistent heart disease. However, studies on children have failed to demonstrate a clear association between the arrhythmic events and these drugs, as demonstrated in adults. What should the attitude of the pediatric psychiatrist be towards the administration of these products? What examination should be made by the psychiatrist …

Therapeutic Efficacy Of Mesenchymal Stem Cells For Cardiovascular Diseases, Dragana Radoje Miloradovic, Dragica Radoje Pavlovic, Miodrag Bozidar Stojkovic, Sanja Bratislav Bojic, Vladislav Bogdan Volarevic, Marina Milosav Gazdic Jankovic, Biljana Tomislav Ljujic

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Despite the improvements in pharmacological and surgical treatments, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the number one cause of death worldwide. During the last two decades, the search for new therapies has been revolutionized with the growing knowledge of stem cell biology. Due to their huge differentiation capacity and paracrine effects, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising tool for the treatment of CVDs. The encouraging outcomes of preclinical studies using MSCs as a treatment for diseased myocardium have set the scene for worldwide clinical trials. In this review, we overview either complete or ongoing clinical trials using MSCs for the therapy …

Incidental Finding Of Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return Of The Left Upper Lobe, A Rare Anatomical Variation, Anika Dutta, Loren Zuiderveld

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (PAPVR) is a rare congenital abnormality in which 1 to 3 of the pulmonary veins connect to the right atrium rather than the left atrium. In this synthesis of the literature on PAPVR of the left upper lobe, we attempt to illustrate this clinical entity using a case detected incidentally on chest computed tomography, explain the anatomical aspects of this anomaly, and summarize the reported incidence and etiology of left-sided PAPVR. Lastly, differential diagnoses, clinical relevance, and management of left-sided PAPVR are presented. The identification of this variant is important, as it may have serious …

Dexrazoxane Decreases The Cardiotoxic Effects Of Doxorubicin In Osteosarcoma Patients Without Increasing Mortality From Secondary Malignant Neoplasms, Thomas S. Przybycien

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report appraising:

Schwartz CL, Wexler LH, Krailo MD, et al. Intensified chemotherapy with dexrazoxane cardioprotection in newly diagnosed nonmetastatic osteosarcoma: A report from the Children’s Oncology Group. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2016;63(1):54-615. https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.25753

for a patient with osteosarcoma and concerns about the risk of secondary malignant neoplasms that attend use of dexarazoxane.

Methamphetamine Associated Cardiomyopathy In Pregnancy: The Distinctions And The Implications, Ashan Hatharasinghe, Hossein Akhondi

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

Methamphetamine associated cardiomyopathy (MAC) and peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) are both rare obstetric conditions. Literature regarding methamphetamine associated cardiomyopathy in the obstetric population is limited, and it can be difficult to make the distinction between the two given the similarities in clinical presentation. However similar, there are significant distinctions in the pathophysiology of these two that can help clinicians with the management process.

Clinical Findings and Outcomes

This case involves a 35-year-old Hispanic G6P5005 at 37 weeks gestation presenting with acute respiratory failure secondary to acute decompensated heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and superimposed preeclampsia leading to urgent cesarean …