Acute myocarditis mimicking acute myocardial infarction associated with pandemic 2009 (H1N1) influenza A virus

The prevalence of myocardial involvement in influenza infection ranges from 0% to 11% depending on the diagnostic criteria used to define myocarditis. Whether such an association holds for the novel influenza A strain, pandemic-2009-H1N1, remains unknown. The clinical presentation of myocarditis varies and often mimics myocardial infarction. Although history, physical examination, laboratory data points, and electrocardiogram are helpful in distinguishing myocarditis from myocardial infarction, differential diagnosis can sometimes be difficult. Here, we present the first known report of acute myocarditis mimicking acute myocardial infarction associated with the pandemic influenza A virus (H1N1) infection. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 5: 552–555

Polymorphisms in Tumour Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNFα) Gene in Patients with Acute Pancreatitis

Proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), play fundamental roles in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (AP). The aim of this study was to determine if polymorphisms in the TNFα gene are associated with AP. Two polymorphisms located in the promoter region (positions −308 and −238) in TNFα gene were determined using polymerase chain reaction- (PCR-) restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) methods in 103 patients with AP and 92 healthy controls. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, BMI and smoking. The frequencies of TNFα polymorphisms were both similar in patients with mild or severe pancreatitis, so were in pancreatitis patients and in controls. We suggest that both SNPs of TNFα are not genetic risk factor for AP susceptibility (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.13−4.01 for TNFα−308 and OR = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.75−1.77 for TNFα−238)

Yttrium-90 radioembolization for the treatment of unresectable liver cancer: Results of a single center

Objective: To determine the effects of yttrium-90 (Y-90) resin microsphere radioembolization therapy on patients with unresectable liver cancer who do not benefit from chemotherapy. Methods: Fifty-five patients underwent radioembolization therapy included in the study whose had unresectable primary or metastatic liver cancer originating from the gastrointestinal tract. Three were excluded from the study after pre-evaluation angiography. Thirteen (23.6%) of the remaining 52 patients had hepatocellular carcinoma and 39 (76.4%) had metastatic liver cancer. Fifty-two patients underwent Y-90 radioembolization treatment. Each patient's response to the administered treatment was evaluated using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) and the overall probability of survival was displayed graphically by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: After Y-90 therapy, 47 patients were follow-up. While 57% of the patients responded to treatment as clinical benefit, the disease progressed in 43%. The median hepatic progression-free survival time of the patients was 3.4 months (95% confidence interval (ci):1.4-5.3) and the overall survival time was 11.3 months (95%, CI:8.7-14.03). Conclusion: This study emphasizes that Y-90 resin microsphere radioembolization treatment is effective in patients with unresectable liver cancer

Mean platelet volume in healthy subjects

WOS: 000296573100028

Mean platelet volume in healthy subjects

WOS: 000296573100028

Syncope caused by hyperkalemia during use of a combined therapy with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and spironolactone

WOS: 000284662700009PubMed: 20859899A 76 year-old woman with a history of coronary artery bypass grafting and prior myocardial infarction was transferred to the emergency loom with loss of consciousness due to marked bradycardia caused by hyperkalemia The concentration of serum potassium was high, and normal sinus rhythm was restored after correction of the serum potassium level The cause of hyperkalemia was considered to be several doses of spiranolactone, an aldosterone antagonist, in addition to the long-term intake of ramipril, an ACE inhibitor This case is a good example of electrolyte imbalance causing acute life threatening cardiac events Clinicians should be alert to the possibility of hyperkalemia, especially in elderly patients using ACE/ARB in combination with potassium sparing agents and who have mild renal disturbanc

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PubMed ID: 23936946[No abstract available

The relationship between acute coronary syndrome and sildenafil

Turker, Yasin/0000-0002-5157-4624WOS: 000324332900046PubMed: 23791459Sildenafil is a drug used for male erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil's fatal cardiac effects except due to hypotension with simultaneous nitrate use have not been reported. We reported in this case a 70-year-old man admitted to the emergency service with chest pain, which occurs in an hour after sildenafil use. Electrocardiogram showed inferoposterior ST-segment elevation. In angiography, total circumflex artery occlusion has been seen