A challenging transseptal mitral valve in valve case report: Success and safety.

Key Clinical Message: Transcatheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI) is considered a less-invasive approach than open-heart surgery, favored in high-risk patients elected for valve replacement. Although seemingly suitable, this procedure is highly operator-dependent. Abstract: Transcatheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI) is an alternative in high-risk patients. We reported a 72-year-old patient with mitral bioprosthesis degeneration successfully receiving TMVI. The procedure has lower morbidity and mortality rate than the surgical approach but can be accompanied by several complications, especially when conducted by an inexperienced operator.

Cardiovascular Complications of COVID-19 among Pregnant Women and Their Fetuses: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is a viral infectious disease leading to a spectrum of clinical complications, especially cardiovascular. Evidence shows that this infection can potentially accompany a worse outcome in pregnant women. Cardiovascular complications in mothers and their fetuses are reported by previous studies. OBJECTIVE: In this systematic review, we aim to investigate the cardiovascular complications of COVID-19 during pregnancy in the mothers and fetus, according to the published literature. METHOD: We systematically searched the online databases of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, using relevant keywords up to April 2022. We included all observational studies reporting cardiovascular complications among COVID-19-affected pregnant women and their fetuses. RESULTS: We included 74 studies containing 47582 pregnant COVID-19 cases. Pre-eclampsia, hypertensive disorders, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, myocardial infarction, thrombosis formation, alterations in maternal-fetal Doppler patterns, and maternal and fetal arrhythmia were reported as cardiovascular complications. The highest incidences of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia among COVID-19 pregnant cases, reported by studies, were 69% and 62%, and the lowest were 0.5% and 3%. The highest and lowest incidences of fetal bradycardia were 20% and 3%, and regarding fetal tachycardia, 5.4% and 1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy can potentially be associated with cardiovascular complications in the mother, particularly pre-eclampsia and heart failure. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy can potentially cause cardiovascular complications in the fetus, particularly arrhythmia.

The Potential Involvement of SARS-CoV-2 in the Immuno-Pathogenesis of a Type A Aortic Dissection Case.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may represent different clinical manifestations with different severities, from mild to severe. Even though the respiratory system is the mainly involved organ, numerous reports have mentioned cardiovascular complications in COVID-19. Herein, we report a case of type A aortic dissection in a COVID-19 patient.

A case series of myocardial infarction in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients: Same complication, different outcomes.

Thrombosis is frequently observed in COVID-19, especially in critically ill patients. Management of such life-threatening conditions is of high importance in the context of the current pandemic. Herein, we provide a case series of myocardial infarction in the clinical evolution of COVID-19, emphasizing its importance and implications on the cardiovascular system.

Spontaneous Aortic Dissection Limited to the Sinus of Valsalva: Report of Two Cases.

Dissection of the sinus of Valsalva is a rare and life-threatening event. It often occurs during percutaneous coronary intervention in the right coronary artery (RCA). Dissection flap usually involves the RCA and the right sinus of Valsalva. Here we report two extremely rare cases of spontaneous dissection limited to the non-coronary sinus of Valsalva, causing severe aortic valve regurgitation: a male aged 51 years presenting with back pain, weakness, and presyncope and another male aged 71 years presenting with orthopnea and weakness. The dissection was found by transesophageal echocardiography. Surgical treatment was successful for both patients. One year after surgery, both patients were asymptomatic and follow- up transthoracic echocardiography did not show any abnormality.

Effect of growth hormone deficiency on brain MRI findings among children with growth restrictions.

OBJECTIVES: Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is a major problem among children with short stature. In this study, the role of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in defining the underlying defects among short children with GHD is evaluated. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, data of 158 children were evaluated. Growth hormone (GH) levels were measured using stimulating tests and brain MRI with gadolinium contrast was applied, as well. RESULTS: Some 25.3% of patients had GHD with a mean age of 8.01±3.40 years. MRI results showed 35 as normal, four with pituitary hypoplasia, and one with microadenoma. The MRI results were significantly associated with GH levels and presence of other endocrine disorders. There was a significant association between prenatal disorders and patients' bone age delay. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with severe GHD and patients with multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies, MRI is more likely to be abnormal, and bone age is much delayed in patients with history of prenatal disorders.

Domestic violence against women attending gynecologic outpatient clinics.

BACKGROUND: Violence against women and threat of violence are some of the main barriers to women's empowerment and equal participation in the society. However, they often go unnoticed and undocumented and therefore unresolved. For women, one of every five years of healthy life lost because of injury, disease, or premature death is attributable to violence. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of domestic violence in women attending three obstetric and gynecologic clinics in Tehran, and to determine the association between domestic violence and demographic factors. METHODS: One thousand women, 15-64 years old, attending three obstetric and gynecologic clinics affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran were invited to participate in a cross-sectional survey with self-administered questionnaire. The association between demographic factors (age, level of education, religious believes, annual income, job, husband's employment status, drug and alcohol abuse, previous custody of husbands) and domestic violence was assessed by questionnaire. RESULTS: Five hundred and ninety out of the 1000 women had experienced at least one form of violence (physical, mental, not sexual) from their husbands, 196 women had experienced some forms of controlling behavior and mental violence, and 361 women had been physically threatened. Low level of education in women, nongovernmental job, previous custody, psychiatric disorders of men, and coercive marriage for women were associated with an increased risk of domestic violence. CONCLUSION: With the high prevalence of domestic violence, health workers should not ignore the seriousness of domestic violence. Health and social personnel should be appropriately trained before "asking all cases" becomes a policy within health and social services.