Infective Endocarditis Complicated by Ventricular Septal Defect and Coarctation of the Aorta, Suspected on Auscultation and Phonocardiography.

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is associated with other congenital cardiovascular anomalies, including ventricular septal defects (VSDs). These anomalies can cause a systolic murmur; however, CoA sometimes remains undiagnosed, even when a VSD is detected in newborns. The coexistence of CoA and VSD poses a high risk of infective endocarditis (IE), making an early diagnosis and treatment crucial.

Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus arising from melanocytosis: a case report and literature review.

Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus (PMME), a rare histologic type of esophageal cancer, accounts for 0.1-0.8% of all primary esophageal tumors.

Clinical and Echocardiographic Characteristics of Left Atrial Diverticulum.

Background: Remarkable advancements in cardiac computed tomography (cCT) have provided new insights into previously undescribed anatomical structures, such as the left atrial diverticula (LADs). The aims of the present study were to assess the characteristics of LADs and their relationship with cardiac function.

Methods: We analyzed consecutive patients who underwent preprocedural cCT and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for catheter ablation of paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation between January 2020 and 2022.

Diagnostic Utility of Relative Apical Sparing Index in Cardiac Amyloidosis Subtypes: A Comparative Study of Immunoglobulin Light Chain and Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Speckles tracking echocardiography imaging enables clinicians to detect subtle systolic dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the differences in speckle tracking echocardiographic findings between immunoglobulin light chain amyloid cardiomyopathy (AL-CM) and transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (TTR-CM).

Methods: The patients with a confirmed diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis through cardiac biopsy from March 2013 to October 2022 were included.

Risk Factors for Intraoperative Instability in Sedated Patients Undergoing Pulmonary Vein Isolation Ablation.

Persistent or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is typically treated with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) ablation under deep sedation with propofol. Intraoperative hemodynamic or respiratory instability often interferes with the surgical procedure. We retrospectively investigated risk factors in 80 patients who underwent their first PVI ablation for atrial fibrillation at our hospital.

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis with esophageal perforation and tracheal ulcer: a case report and literature review.

Background: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a rare and life-threatening condition, with high morbidity and mortality. Consequently, appropriate and prompt diagnosis and treatment are necessary. Herein, we report a case of esophageal perforation and bronchial ulcer secondary to DNM, for which thoracoscopic esophagectomy was performed after the failure of conservative treatment.

Critical Limb Threatening Ischemia Due to Severe Polyarteritis Nodosa.

A delayed diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa may lead to critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). A 74-year-old woman presented with left-foot pain and was treated with oral vasodilators and antiplatelet agents. However, the distal ischemia progressed to CLTI, including gangrene of the fingers and toes, and bilateral foot dropping appeared because of peroneal nerve paralysis.

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Neurofibromatosis Type 1: A Case with a Novel NF1 Gene Mutation.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant multi-organ disease. The clinical manifestations include not only skin lesions and malignant tumors but also lung complications, including pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, the association between gene mutations in NF1 and the occurrence of PAH has not yet been elucidated.

A case of gastric adenocarcinoma with pyloric gland-type infiltrating submucosa.

Background: The development of immunohistochemical staining has revealed that gastric adenocarcinoma with the gastric phenotype can be divided into the foveolar, fundic gland, and pyloric gland phenotypes. Gastric adenocarcinoma of the pyloric gland type is difficult to diagnose using biopsy because of its low atypia and rarity. Herein, we describe a case of gastric adenocarcinoma of the pyloric gland type that was diagnosed immunohistochemically after endoscopic resection.

Risk factors for early recurrence after radical gastrectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II or III gastric cancer: a multicenter, retrospective study.

Background: Radical gastrectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy is the standard treatment for stage II or III gastric cancer in Asian countries. Early recurrence during or after adjuvant chemotherapy is associated with poor prognosis; however, risk factors for early recurrence remain unclear.

Methods: In this multicenter, retrospective cohort study including six institutions, we evaluated the clinicopathological factors of 553 patients with gastric cancer undergoing gastrectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy between 2012 and 2016.

Pulmonary pressure-flow responses to exercise in heart failure treated with angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor.

Background: The role of the angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) in cardiac function, particularly its impact on pulmonary circulation, remains underexplored. Recent studies have described abnormal mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP)-cardiac output (CO) responses as having the potential to assess the disease state. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of ARNI on pulmonary circulation in heart failure.

Refractory gastrocutaneous fistula treated by two-stage surgery: a case report.

Background: Gastrocutaneous fistulas are a rare complication of enterocutaneous fistulas and can be caused by intestinal injury, infection, and anastomotic leakage. They are typically treated conservatively or endoscopically; however, for large or difficult-to-treat gastrocutaneous fistulas, surgical intervention is required. Herein, we present a case of a huge gastrocutaneous fistula that was successfully treated with a two-stage surgery performed using open abdomen management.

Esophageal replacement with pedunculated gastric conduit interposition and duodenal transection for refractory anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy.

Background: Leakage of cervical esophagogastric anastomosis is a serious complication of esophagectomy. However, there is no established way to treat the anastomosis leakage.

Case Presentation: The case is a 69-year-old man with locally advanced esophageal and two early gastric cancers.

Effectiveness of surveillance by echocardiography for cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction of patients with breast cancer.

Background: Cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) affect the prognosis of patients with breast cancer. Echocardiographic surveillance of patients treated with anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) antibodies has been recommended, but few reports have provided evidence on patients with breast cancer only. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of echocardiographic surveillance for breast cancer patients.

Olive mill wastewater and hydroxytyrosol inhibits atherogenesis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

The Mediterranean diet, which is characterized by high consumption of olive oil, prevents cardiovascular disease. Meanwhile, olive mill wastewater (OMWW), which is obtained as a byproduct during olive oil production, contains various promising bioactive components such as water-soluble polyphenols. Hydroxytyrosol (HT), the major polyphenol in OMWW, has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties; however, the atheroprotective effects of OMWW and HT remain to be fully understood.