ABSTRACT
Xanthogranulomatous endometritis (XGE) is an extremely rare chronic inflammatory condition, which may be associated with endometrial hyperplasia, endometrial carcinoma, or cervical stenosis. Imaging features can be easily misdiagnosed as an aggressive malignancy. We present a case of XGE, which is the first case of XGE with serial multimodality imaging examinations, in addition to clinical, surgical and pathologic correlations. As such, this unique case illustrates the evolution of this rare disease.
ABSTRACT
Iatrogenic type A dissection caused by percutaneous coronary intervention is a rare but life-threatening condition. Computed tomographic angiography is an excellent diagnostic tool commonly utilized if such procedural complication is clinically suspected. There are, however, potential diagnostic challenges. Herein, we present an illustrative case of iatrogenic type A dissection successfully diagnosed on computed tomography angiography along with a potential diagnostic pitfall.
ABSTRACT
Owing to their spontaneous development of atherosclerosis, apolipoprotein E knockout mice (ApoE(KO)) are one of the best studied animal models for this disease. Little is known about the utility of various omega-3 fatty acid regimens, in particular fish oils, in preventing cardiac disease in ApoE(KO) mice. The purpose of this study was to determine the cardiovascular effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation with either safflower oil (control), fish oil, flaxseed oil, or designed oil in ApoE(KO) mice fed a high-fat diet for a total of 16 weeks. In-vivo cardiac function was assessed weekly using murine echocardiography. Blood pressure, plasma lipid levels, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were serially measured. The results show that ApoE(KO) mice fed fish oil demonstrated an increase in left ventricular wall thickness as a result of increased afterload. Despite chronic treatment with fish oil over 16 weeks, blood pressure increased in ApoE(KO) mice by 20% compared with the baseline. Both echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy and biochemical increase in BNP levels confirmed diastolic dysfunction in ApoE(KO) mice fed fish oil. This suggests that high-fat diet supplemented with fish oil may lead to adverse cardiovascular effects in ApoE deficient mice.
Subject(s)
Apolipoproteins E/deficiency , Apolipoproteins E/genetics , Cardiotonic Agents , Fatty Acids, Omega-3/pharmacology , Fish Oils/pharmacology , Animals , Blood Pressure/drug effects , Echocardiography , Hemodynamics/drug effects , Linseed Oil/pharmacology , Lipid Metabolism/drug effects , Mice , Mice, Knockout , Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/metabolism , Safflower Oil/pharmacology , Ventricular Function, Left/drug effectsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Several studies have correlated elevations in cardiac biomarkers of injury post marathon with transient and reversible right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction as assessed by both transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). Whether or not permanent myocardial injury occurs due to repeated marathon running in the aging population remains controversial. OBJECTIVES: To assess the extent and severity of cardiac dysfunction after the completion of full marathon running in individuals greater than 50 years of age using cardiac biomarkers, TTE, cardiac computed tomography (CCT), and CMR. METHODS: A total of 25 healthy volunteers (21 males, 55 ± 4 years old) from the 2010 and 2011 Manitoba Full Marathons (26.2 miles) were included in the study. Cardiac biomarkers and TTE were performed one week prior to the marathon, immediately after completing the race and at one-week follow-up. CMR was performed at baseline and within 24 hours of completion of the marathon, followed by CCT within 3 months of the marathon. RESULTS: All participants demonstrated an elevated cTnT post marathon. Right atrial and ventricular volumes increased, while RV systolic function decreased significantly immediately post marathon, returning to baseline values one week later. Of the entire study population, only two individuals demonstrated late gadolinium enhancement of the subendocardium in the anterior wall of the left ventricle, with evidence of stenosis of the left anterior descending artery on CCT. CONCLUSIONS: Marathon running in individuals over the age of 50 is associated with a transient, yet reversible increase in cardiac biomarkers and RV systolic dysfunction. The presence of myocardial fibrosis in older marathon athletes is infrequent, but when present, may be due to underlying occult coronary artery disease.
Subject(s)
Aging/physiology , Cardiomyopathies/complications , Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine/methods , Physical Endurance/physiology , Running/physiology , Ventricular Dysfunction, Right/etiology , Ventricular Function, Right/physiology , Cardiomyopathies/diagnosis , Cardiomyopathies/physiopathology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Myocardium/metabolism , Myocardium/pathology , Prospective Studies , Severity of Illness Index , Ventricular Dysfunction, Right/diagnosis , Ventricular Dysfunction, Right/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) leads to structural heart disease, including dilated cardiomyopathy, in 90% of patients >18 years of age. Despite the ubiquity of cardiomyopathy associated with DMD, ventricular aneurysms in these patients have rarely been reported. We present a case of a basal inferoposterior aneurysm of the left ventricle in a 23-year-old male patient with DMD.