Transient Global Amnesia and Takosubo Syndrome: A Case Report

Broken heart syndrome, also called apical ballooning syndrome or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is characterized by an acute, transient systolic dysfunction of the apical and mid segments of the left ventricle. There have been reports showing an association with neurologic disorders. In this article, we present the case of a female patient, who suffered from an episode of transient global amnesia followed by takotsubo cardiomyopathy

Biomechanical response of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms: Association with structural remodelling

Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms (ATAA) were resected from patients during graft replacement and non-aneurysmal vessels during autopsy. Tissues were histomechanically tested according to region and orientation, and the experimental recordings reduced with a Fung-type strain-energy function, affording faithful biomechanical characterisation of the vessel response. The material and rupture properties disclosed that ATAA and non-aneurysmal aorta were stiffer and stronger circumferentially, accounted by preferential collagen reinforcement. The deviation of microstructure in the right lateral region, with a longitudinal extracellular matrix and smooth muscle element sub-intimally, reflects the regional differences in material properties identified. ATAA had no effect on strength, but caused stiffening and extensibility reduction, corroborating our histological observation of deficient elastin but not collagen content. Our findings may serve as input data for the implementation of finite element models, to be used as improved surgical intervention criteria, and may further our understanding of the pathophysiology of ATAA and aortic dissection. © 2012 Taylor & Francis