The diagnosis and clinical importance of tumour neovascularisation from coronary artery to right atrial myxoma

Myxomas are the commonest cardiac tumours and are usually localised in the atria. Neovascularisation in cardiac myxomas has been shown in previous case reports. However, the clinical importance of neovascularisation in cardiac myxomas is not well understood. In our case report, we present a right atrial myxoma in a 46 year-old woman admitted to our hospital with exertional angina and dyspnea. Coronary angiography revealed the presence of tumour neovascularisation from the right coronary artery, with no evidence of coronary artery stenosis. We thus speculate that neovascularisation of myxoma may cause typical anginal symptoms as a result of coronary steal phenomenon. Coronary angiography might help in the evaluation of the neovascularisation process and also in indicating surgery.Myxomas are the commonest cardiac tumours and are usually localised in the atria. Neovascularisation in cardiac myxomas has been shown in previous case reports. However, the clinical importance of neovascularisation in cardiac myxomas is not well understood. In our case report, we present a right atrial myxoma in a 46 year-old woman admitted to our hospital with exertional angina and dyspnea. Coronary angiography revealed the presence of tumour neovascularisation from the right coronary artery, with no evidence of coronary artery stenosis. We thus speculate that neovascularisation of myxoma may cause typical anginal symptoms as a result of coronary steal phenomenon. Coronary angiography might help in the evaluation of the neovascularisation process and also in indicating surgery

Lack of Association of Childhood Partial Epilepsy with Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor Gene

Brain-derived factor (BDNF) is a member of neurotrophin family and is localized and upregulated in areas implicated in epileptogenesis. Several lines of evidence make the BDNF gene a plausible candidate gene for predisposition to epilepsy. In this study, we tested that BDNF might be involved in the etiology of childhood PE. To assess whether BDNF gene C270T polimorphism could be implicated in vulnerability to PE, we conducted a case-control association analysis (112 partial epileptic and 100 controls) in Turkish children. Epileptic children were divided into two groups: 1—idiopathic (n=85) and 2—symptomathic epilepsy (n=27). There was no significant difference in genotypic distribution and allelic frequencies of the BDNF gene C270T polimorphism between the PE and control groups. However, the BDNF gene TT genotype was more frequently seen in the epileptic children (15 versus 11 patients, resp.). Interestingly, in the epilepsy group, both two children with TT genotype have posttraumatic epilepsy. The data indicate a possible association with the 270T genotype of the BDNF gene with a posttraumatic epilepsy. To draw any conclusion, further studies using larger sample sizes should be carried out in various ethnic populations in childhood epilepsies

Left Atrial Function Is Improved in Short-Term Follow-Up after Catheter Ablation of Outflow Tract Premature Ventricular Complexes

Background: Association of premature ventricular complexes (PVC) with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and efficacy of catheter ablation treatment have been demonstrated in studies. The role of left atrial (LA) mechanics in the etiopathogenesis of PVC-induced cardiomyopathy (PVC-CMP) as well as changes in LA mechanics with catheter ablation have not been studied before. Methods: A total number of 61 patients (Mean Age 43 ± 3) with idiopathic outflow tract (OT) PVCs undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) were enrolled. ECG, 24 h Holter, and echocardiographic evaluation with left ventricular (LV) diastolic functions and LA volumetric assessments were performed before and three months after RFCA. Results: Along with a marginal increase in left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), improvement in diastolic functions and left atrial mechanics were observed in the study (LVEF 53 ± 7 versus 57 ± 6, p < 0.01) in short-term follow-up. The frequency of LV diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) decreased with catheter ablation (n = 5 to 0, p = 0.02). The overall LA function improved. Left atrium passive and overall emptying fraction (LAEF) increased significantly (0.32 ± 0.04 to 0.41 ± 0.04, p < 0.05 and 0.62 ± 0.04 to 0.65 ± 0.004, p < 0.05, respectively). Active LAEF decreased significantly (0.29 ± 0.005 to 0.24 ± 0.006, p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study are indicative of "PVC-induced atriomyopathy" which responds to RFCA in short-term follow-up. Atrial dysfunction might play a role in symptoms and etiopathogenesis of LVSD

Schizophrenia in microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II syndrome: supporting evidence for an association between the PCNT gene and schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a genetically complex disease that is related to neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Several genetic polymorphisms and genetic syndromes associated with neurodevelopmental processes have been linked to schizophrenia. In this case report, we present a case with an association between microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II and schizophrenia. Microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II syndrome is a rare, autosomal recessive disease that occurs as a result of the mutations in the pericentrin (PCNT) gene that are responsible for cell cycle and division. In this report, we discuss the possible association between the PCNT gene and schizophrenia