Association between gut microbiota and malignant cardiac tumors: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies provide compelling evidence linking the gut microbiota to most cancers. Nevertheless, further research is required to establish a definitive causal relationship between the gut microbiota and malignant cardiac tumors. METHODS: The genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data on the human gut Microbiota, included in the IEU Open GWAS project, was initially collected by the MiBioGen consortium. It encompasses 14,306 individuals and comprises a total of 5,665,279 SNPs. Similarly, the GWAS data on malignant cardiac tumors, also sourced from the IEU Open GWAS project, was initially stored in the finnGen database, including 16,380,303 SNPs observed within a cohort of 174,108 individuals within the European population. Utilizing a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) methodology, we examined whether there exists a causal association between the gut microbiota and cardiac tumors. Additionally, to bolster the credibility and robustness of the identified causal relationships, we conducted an extensive array of sensitivity analyses, encompassing Cochran's Q test, MR-PRESSO tests, MR-Egger interpret test, directionality test and leave-one-out analysis. RESULTS: Our analysis unveiled seven distinct causal associations between genetic susceptibility in the gut microbiota and the incidence of malignant cardiac tumors. Among these, the Family Rikenellaceae, genus Eubacterium brachy group, and genus Ruminococcaceae UCG009 exhibited an elevated risk of cardiac tumors, while the phylum Verrucomicrobia, genus Lactobacillus, genus Ruminiclostridium5, and an unknown genus id.1868 were genetically linked to a reduced risk of cardiac tumors. The causal relationship between these two bacteria, belonging to the phylum Verrucomicrobia (OR = 0.178, 95% CI: 0.052-0.614, p = 0.006) and the genus Ruminococcaceae UCG009 (OR = 3.071, 95% CI: 1.236-7.627, p = 0.016), and cardiac tumors was further validated through sensitivity analyses, reinforcing the robustness and reliability of the observed associations. CONCLUSION: Our MR analysis confirms that the phylum Verrucomicrobia displays significant protection against cardiac tumor, and the genus Ruminococcaceae UCG009 leads to an increasing risk of cardiac tumor.

Infectious pseudo-aneurysm of the left ventricle: a case report and a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: In the workup of a pediatric patient with pericarditis we found evidence of a pseudo-aneurysm of the left ventricle, which is a rare complication of purulent pericarditis. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a six-year-old girl who was diagnosed with pericarditis and a fistula between the pericardial and the intra-luminal space of the left ventricle of the heart. She was successfully treated with antibiotics and cardio-thoracic surgery. We found 23 published cases (21 with follow-up) of infectious pseudo-aneurysm of the heart, of which 19 underwent surgery, 5 had fatal outcome, and 2 who refused surgery survived. The majority of cases were associated with Staphylococcus aureus. The exact mechanisms of this rare complication remain unknown. CONCLUSIONS: A pseudo-aneurysm of the left ventricle is a rare and not well understood complication of a purulent pericarditis most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus infection. Because of risk of rupture, surgical intervention is advised.

A Case of Infected Left Atrial Myxoma Presenting as ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI).

BACKGROUND Although left atrial myxoma is the most common benign primary cardiac tumor, infected atrial myxoma is rare. This report presents a case of infected left atrial myxoma with embolization to the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery, which was identified following an initial presentation with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). CASE REPORT A 34-year-old man with a history of smoking tobacco and intravenous cocaine use presented to the emergency room with symptoms of a feeling of pressure on the chest and symptoms in the left arm. An electrocardiogram (ECG) showed ST elevation in leads II, III, aVF, and V3-V5, consistent with an anterior-inferior STEMI. He underwent percutaneous intervention (PCI) with two drug-eluting stents to the mid-distal LAD coronary artery. The patient also had fever, chills, a history of weight loss, and signs of peripheral emboli. Blood cultures identified Gram-positive Streptococcus parasanguinis, a member of the Streptococcus viridans group. Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) identified a large, mobile, pedunculated left atrial mass protruding into the mitral valve in diastole and mitral valve vegetations. Surgical excision and the histology confirmed a diagnosis of benign left atrial myxoma containing Gram-positive cocci. The patient required mitral valve replacement and a postoperative two-week course of gentamicin and a six-week course of ceftriaxone CONCLUSIONS A rare case is reported of infected left atrial myxoma presenting as STEMI secondary to coronary artery embolization, which was treated with PCI, antibiotics, and mitral valve replacement.

Infected cardiac myxoma.

A 66-year-old male presenting with low-grade fever and general fatigue was diagnosed as having infected myxoma of the left atrium. Blood cultures grew Streptococcus mitis. He underwent urgent resection and histological examination revealed tumor cells in a mucopolysaccharide matrix and bacterial colonies along with active inflammation. Infected cardiac myxoma is extremely rare; however, it contains a potential risk of arterial embolization and so early diagnosis and urgent surgery should be considered.

Two sporadic infected cardiac myxomas in 1 patient.

Infected cardiac myxoma is a rare cause of endocarditis. The finding of coexisting infected cardiac myxomas is highly unusual. Herein, we present the case of a 58-year-old woman with a low-grade fever. Laboratory findings strongly indicated inflammation, and blood cultures detected Staphylococcus species. Echocardiograms revealed mobile masses in the area of the mitral valve. Transesophageal echocardiograms showed 2 formations that arose from opposite sides of the mitral annulus and protruded into the left ventricle during systole. During emergency surgery, 2 abnormal growths with numerous vegetations were completely excised. The diagnosis of myxoma was confirmed upon histologic evaluation. Microbiological and polymerase chain reaction analysis of the myxomas detected the bacterial strain Enterococcus faecalis. Five months postoperatively, the patient showed no signs of recurrent infection and had a normal echocardiographic appearance.This report is the first of an infected cardiac myxoma in the Czech population and one of approximately 60 reports in the medical literature from 1956 to the present. In addition to the case of our patient, we discuss the discrepancy between the bacteriologic findings.

Fever of unknown origin: a case of cardiac myxoma infected with Staphylococcus lugdunensis.

Infected cardiac myxoma is a rare entity. It poses a diagnostic challenge as clinical presentation may reflect an underlying infectious, immune, or a neoplastic disease process. To the best of our knowledge, the first case of a cardiac myxoma infected with Staphylococcus lugdunensis is reported in a 54-year-old man with fever of unknown origin for 4 months. Successful excision of the tumor was performed and was followed by an uneventful recovery. Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of infected cardiac myxomas are discussed.

Rare pediatric cardiac tumor presentation.

A case of cardiac inflammatory pseudotumor with a unique presentation is reported. This especially rare case belongs to a subset of pseudotumor caused by an infectious etiology. Furthermore, it is unique in that the patient experienced unexplained sinus tachycardia, which resolved with resection of the tumor. This report also emphasizes the importance of multiple imaging methods combined with the usefulness of surgery for treatment and diagnosis.

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm after resection of an infected cardiac myxoma.

A 12-year-old girl with a high fever underwent echocardiography and was found to have a myxoma that arose from the atrial side of the anterior mitral valve leaflet. The tumor was successfully excised. Histologic examination of the tumor showed myxoma cells and an organized thrombus with bacterial colonization. The patient was discharged from the hospital on antibiotic treatment. After remaining asymptomatic for 3 weeks, she was readmitted with acute abdomen. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance angiography detected intra-abdominal hemorrhaging and a saccular aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. The patient underwent successful emergency surgery. To our knowledge, no other report has been published concerning an abdominal aortic aneurysm secondary to bacterial infection of a cardiac myxoma. Although complications this severe are rarely observed in patients who have endocarditis, early recognition and treatment can be life-saving.

Mixoma auricular izquierdo infectado / Infected left atrial myxoma

El mixoma es el tumor primario más frecuente que afecta al corazón. La infección de estos tumores es infrecuente y, en ocasiones, su presentación clínica es indistinguible de un mixoma no infectado. Describimos el caso de una mujer de 58 años con una infección faríngea previa que desarrolló infección sobre un mixoma auricular izquierdo, complicado con embolia sistémica en los miembros inferiores. Se aisló Streptococcus oralis en los hemocultivos y en el material embólico. El tumor se resecó y la evolución clínica posterior resultó sin incidencias. La frecuencia del mixoma infectado es muy baja y una revisión de la bibliografía se ha de basar en los casos aislados publicados

Myxoma is the most common primary tumor of the heart. It is uncommon for these tumors to become infected and, at times, clinical presentation is no different from that of an uninfected myxoma. We describe the case of a 58-year-old woman with a previous pharyngeal infection that developed into infection of a left atrial myxoma and which was complicated by systemic embolism affecting the lower limbs. Streptococcus oralis was identified in blood cultures and embolic material. The tumor was resected and the patient's subsequent clinical evolution was uneventful. The incidence of infected myxoma is very low. A review of the literature based on individual case reports is presented

Infected cardiac myxoma.

Infected cardiac myxomas are extremely rare with only forty cases described in the literature. We report a case of an infected cardiac myxoma that presented in a manner similar to bacterial endocarditis. Our case is the first to be diagnosed using previously defined criteria, and is unusual in that transesophageal echocardiography was required to make the diagnosis.

Infected papillary fibroelastoma attached to the atrial septum.

A 61-year-old woman had intermittent fever of 2 months' duration following a dental extraction. On admission, her body temperature was 39.2 degrees C. A mid-systolic murmur was heard at the apex on ausculation. A 2-dimensional echocardiogram revealed a mobile, heavy stick-like mass with vegetation (5.0 x 1.5 cm) attached to the left atrial septum. Multiple blood cultures grew Streptococcus constellatus. On diagnosis of an infected left atrial myxoma, antibiotics were administered daily and 4 weeks later, the left atrial tumor was resected. The tumor was 5.3cm long, 1.5cm in diameter at the inter-atrial wall and had vegetation on the free edge. On microscopic examination, colonies of Gram-positive cocci were found in the thrombus, on the papillary fibroelastoma. After treatment with antibiotics for a further 4 weeks, the patient was discharged. This is the first report of infected papillary fibroelastoma.

Infected cardiac myxoma.

Infected cardiac myxoma is a rare condition with variable presentation. We report a case of infected cardiac myxoma which presented as fever of unknown origin. Diagnostic considerations and treatment of this condition are discussed.