Arch Med Sci
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Case Reports
Transapical aortic valve implantation - a rescue procedure for patients with aortic stenosis and "porcelain aorta".
Surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) still remains the treatment of choice in symptomatic significant aortic stenosis (AS). Due to technical problems, extensive calcification of the ascending aorta ("porcelain aorta") is an additional risk factor for surgery and transapical aortic valve implantation (TAAVI) is likely to be the only rescue procedure for this group of patients. We describe the case of an 81-year-old woman with severe AS and "porcelain aorta", in whom the only available life-saving intervention was TAAVI.
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Epipericardial fat necrosis (EPFN) is an uncommon cause of chest pain. Typically manifesting as severe acute chest pain, EPFN can be mistaken for a serious disorder, such as pulmonary embolism or myocardial infarction. ⋯ According to our literature search, this is only the second case in which chest CT alone was used to both diagnose the lesion and track its resolution. It is the first documented case diagnosed and followed as such in North America.
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The aim of the present study was to analyse patients' knowledge in the field of neoplastic prophylaxis. ⋯ Patients showed the greatest amount of knowledge regarding breast cancer and the least amount regarding prostate cancer. Oncological awareness in cancer patients was found to be related to variables such as education, age and residence. No difference was found between patients and controls, comparing their knowledge of disease symptoms as well as screening possibilities.
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Obesity-related disturbances are considered to be risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Chromium is shown to improve carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Conflicting data on effects of chromium supplementation in humans are published. The aim of the study was to assess the concentrations of serum chromium during the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in obese persons. ⋯ We suggest that the studied centrally obese persons differed in chromium metabolism. In subjects "consuming" Cr during the OGTT, chromium status may be associated with increased risk for CVD.
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There is accumulating clinical evidence that acute liver failure may be regularly associated with myocardial injury. To test this hypothesis in a standardized experimental setting, we used two porcine models of ALF. ⋯ Our study provides direct evidence of early myocardial injury in the setting of acute liver failure in pigs. The mechanism of injury remains to be elucidated.