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Frontiers in Endocrinology 2021In March 2020, the WHO declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a global pandemic. Obesity... (Review)
Review
In March 2020, the WHO declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a global pandemic. Obesity was soon identified as a risk factor for poor prognosis, with an increased risk of intensive care admissions and mechanical ventilation, but also of adverse cardiovascular events. Obesity is associated with adipose tissue, chronic low-grade inflammation, and immune dysregulation with hypertrophy and hyperplasia of adipocytes and overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, to implement appropriate therapeutic strategies, exact mechanisms must be clarified. The role of white visceral adipose tissue, increased in individuals with obesity, seems important, as a viral reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors. After infection of host cells, the activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines creates a setting conducive to the "cytokine storm" and macrophage activation syndrome associated with progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome. In obesity, systemic viral spread, entry, and prolonged viral shedding in already inflamed adipose tissue may spur immune responses and subsequent amplification of a cytokine cascade, causing worse outcomes. More precisely, visceral adipose tissue, more than subcutaneous fat, could predict intensive care admission; and lower density of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) could be associated with worse outcome. EAT, an ectopic adipose tissue that surrounds the myocardium, could fuel COVID-19-induced cardiac injury and myocarditis, and extensive pneumopathy, by strong expression of inflammatory mediators that could diffuse paracrinally through the vascular wall. The purpose of this review is to ascertain what mechanisms may be involved in unfavorable prognosis among COVID-19 patients with obesity, especially cardiovascular events, emphasizing the harmful role of excess ectopic adipose tissue, particularly EAT.
Topics: Adipose Tissue; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; COVID-19; Cardiomyopathies; Heart Diseases; Humans; Inflammation; Intra-Abdominal Fat; Obesity; Pericardium; Prognosis; SARS-CoV-2; Serine Endopeptidases
PubMed: 34484128
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.726967 -
Stem Cell Research & Therapy May 2015Engineered bioimplants for cardiac repair require functional vascularization and innervation for proper integration with the surrounding myocardium. The aim of this work...
Engineered bioimplants for cardiac repair require functional vascularization and innervation for proper integration with the surrounding myocardium. The aim of this work was to study nerve sprouting and neovascularization in an acellular pericardial-derived scaffold used as a myocardial bioimplant. To this end, 17 swine were submitted to a myocardial infarction followed by implantation of a decellularized human pericardial-derived scaffold. After 30 days, animals were sacrificed and hearts were analyzed with hematoxylin/eosin and Masson's and Gallego's modified trichrome staining. Immunohistochemistry was carried out to detect nerve fibers within the cardiac bioimplant by using βIII tubulin and S100 labeling. Isolectin B4, smooth muscle actin, CD31, von Willebrand factor, cardiac troponin I, and elastin antibodies were used to study scaffold vascularization. Transmission electron microscopy was performed to confirm the presence of vascular and nervous ultrastructures. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), cardiac output (CO), stroke volume, end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, end-diastolic wall mass, and infarct size were assessed by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Newly formed nerve fibers composed of several amyelinated axons as the afferent nerve endings of the heart were identified by immunohistochemistry. Additionally, neovessel formation occurred spontaneously as small and large isolectin B4-positive blood vessels within the scaffold. In summary, this study demonstrates for the first time the neoformation of vessels and nerves in cell-free cardiac scaffolds applied over infarcted tissue. Moreover, MRI analysis showed a significant improvement in LVEF (P = 0.03) and CO (P = 0.01) and a 43 % decrease in infarct size (P = 0.007).
Topics: Animals; Coronary Vessels; Immunohistochemistry; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardium; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Pericardium; S100 Proteins; Swine; Tissue Scaffolds; Tubulin; Ventricular Function, Left
PubMed: 26205795
DOI: 10.1186/s13287-015-0101-6 -
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Sep 2021Conventional cardiac T2 mapping suffers from the partial-voluming effect in the endocardium and epicardium due to the co-presence of intra-cavity blood and epicardial...
PURPOSE
Conventional cardiac T2 mapping suffers from the partial-voluming effect in the endocardium and epicardium due to the co-presence of intra-cavity blood and epicardial fat. The aim of the study is to develop a novel single-breath-hold Fat-Saturated Dark-Blood (FSDB) cardiac T2-mapping technique to mitigate the partial-voluming and improve T2 accuracy.
METHODS
The proposed FSDB T2-mapping technique combines T2-prepared bSSFP, a novel use of double inversion-recovery with heart-rate-adaptive TI, and spectrally-selective fat saturation to mitigate partial-voluming from both the blood and fat. FSDB T2 mapping was compared to conventional T2 mapping via simulations, phantom imaging, healthy-subject imaging (n = 8), and patient imaging (n = 7). In the healthy subjects, a high-resolution coplanar anatomical imaging was performed to provide a gold standard for segmentation of endocardium and epicardium. T2 maps were registered to the gold standard image to evaluate any inter-layer T2 difference, which is a surrogate for partial-voluming.
RESULTS
Simulations and phantom imaging showed that FSDB T2 mapping was accurate in a range of heartrates, off-resonance, and T2 values, and blood/fat reasonably nulled in a range of heartrates. In healthy subjects, FSDB T2 mapping showed similar T2 values over different myocardial layers in all 3 short-axis slices (e.g. basal epicardial/mid-wall/endocardial T2 = 42 ± 2 ms/41 ± 1 ms/42 ± 1 ms), whereas conventional T2 mapping showed considerably increased T2 in the endocardium and epicardium (e.g. basal epicardial/mid-wall/endocardial T2 = 48 ± 3 ms/43 ± 1 ms/49 ± 3 ms). The homogeneous T2 in the FSDB T2 mapping increased the apparent LV-wall thickness by 25-41% compared with the conventional method.
CONCLUSIONS
The proposed technique improves accuracy of myocardial T2 mapping against partial-voluming associated with both fat and blood, facilitating a multi-layer T2 evaluation of the myocardium. This technique may improve utility of cardiac T2 mapping in diseases affecting the endocardium and epicardium, and in patients with a small heart.
Topics: Breath Holding; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Pericardium; Phantoms, Imaging; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 34044065
DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2021.05.004 -
The Journal of the Louisiana State... 2017Intravenous drug users have a substantially increased risk of infective endocarditis, especially in the setting of implanted cardiac devices. Purulent pericarditis is a...
INTRODUCTION
Intravenous drug users have a substantially increased risk of infective endocarditis, especially in the setting of implanted cardiac devices. Purulent pericarditis is a rare occurrence that can occur iatrogenically or through direct or hematogenous spread.
CASE DESCRIPTION
A 75 year old man with a past medical history significant for hepatitis C, IV drug abuse, and sick sinus syndrome status post pacemaker was brought in by EMS with a chief complaint of diaphoresis and chest pain. Initial EKG revealed atrial fibrillation with ST elevations in multiple leads. The patient was taken urgently to the cardiac catheterization lab due to concern for STEMI. Left heart catheterization revealed nonobstructive CAD; bedside echo was significant for a pericardial effusion and a pacemaker lead vegetation. CT of the chest revealed extension of the ventricular pacemaker lead through the anterior right ventricular wall and pericardium and into the pleural cavity. Cardiothoracic surgery performed a pacemaker removal as well as pericardial window due to early tamponade; approximately 900 mL of purulent fluid was drained from the pericardial space. The patient was septic with initial blood cultures growing MSSA. He was also found to have multiple other foci of infection including a left-sided pleural effusion and a perihepatic fluid collection, both of which were drained and also grew out MSSA. The patient initially improved on antibiotics after his pacemaker removal and drainage of the infected fluid collections. However, several days after the pacemaker removal he gradually became more bradycardic; due to his multiple comorbidities and active infection, he was not a candidate for a replacement implanted pacemaker. He became profoundly bradycardic and hypotensive overnight and died despite the use of multiple pressors to maintain his blood pressure as well as transcutaneous pacing to maintain his heart rate.
DISCUSSION
Purulent pericarditis has become a relatively uncommon occurrence since the development of effective antibiotics. This case illustrates a rare example of purulent pericarditis and cardiac tamponade secondary to the extension of an infected pacemaker wire through the pericardium and into the thoracic cavity. The presence of multiple other infected fluid collections in this case also illustrates the need to thoroughly assess for secondary foci of infection in cases of bacterial endocarditis.
PubMed: 28414673
DOI: No ID Found -
Heart Rhythm Feb 2021The absence of strategies to consistently and effectively address nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation by nonpharmacological interventions has represented a long-standing... (Review)
Review
The absence of strategies to consistently and effectively address nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation by nonpharmacological interventions has represented a long-standing treatment gap. A combined epicardial/endocardial ablation strategy, the hybrid Convergent procedure, was developed in response to this clinical need. A subxiphoid incision is used to access the pericardial space facilitating an epicardial ablation directed at isolation of the posterior wall of the left atrium. This is followed by an endocardial ablation to complete isolation of the pulmonary veins and for additional ablation as needed. Experience gained with the hybrid Convergent procedure during the last decade has led to the development and adoption of strategies to optimize the technique and mitigate risks. Additionally, a surgical and electrophysiology "team" approach including comprehensive training is believed critical to successfully develop the hybrid Convergent program. A recently completed randomized clinical trial indicated that this ablation strategy is superior to an endocardial-only approach for patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. In this review, we propose and describe best practice guidelines for hybrid Convergent ablation on the basis of a combination of published data, author consensus, and expert opinion. A summary of clinical outcomes, emerging evidence, and future perspectives is also given.
Topics: Atrial Fibrillation; Catheter Ablation; Endocardium; Heart Conduction System; Heart Rate; Humans; Pericardium; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Recurrence
PubMed: 33045430
DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2020.10.004 -
Heart & Lung : the Journal of Critical... 2023Free wall rupture is a fatal and emergency complication of acute myocardial infarction. The factors associated with in-hospital mortality from free wall rupture remain...
BACKGROUND
Free wall rupture is a fatal and emergency complication of acute myocardial infarction. The factors associated with in-hospital mortality from free wall rupture remain unclear.
OBJECTIVES
To investigate the factors associated with in-hospital mortality from free wall rupture.
METHODS
We performed a single-center, retrospective study. We enrolled 111 consecutive patients with free wall rupture following acute myocardial infarction who were admitted to Fuwai Hospital from January 2005 to May 2021. The primary endpoint was in-hospital death. Clinical characteristics, laboratory data, and treatment modalities associated with in-hospital mortality were analyzed.
RESULTS
Eighty-seven of the 111 study participants died in hospital. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that pericardiocentesis (hazard ratio [HR] 0.296, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.094-0.929, p = 0.037), pericardial effusion at admission (HR 0.083, 95% CI 0.025-0.269, p<0.001), time interval between acute myocardial infarction and free wall rupture (HR 0.670, 95% CI 0.598-0.753, p<0.001), and previous myocardial infarction (HR 0.046, 95% CI 0.010-0.208, p<0.001) were independently associated with in-hospital mortality.
CONCLUSIONS
Pericardiocentesis, pericardial effusion at admission, the acute myocardial infarction to free wall rupture time, and previous myocardial infarction are associated with a lower rate of in-hospital mortality from free wall rupture after acute myocardial infarction.
Topics: Humans; Heart Rupture, Post-Infarction; Hospital Mortality; Pericardial Effusion; Retrospective Studies; Myocardial Infarction
PubMed: 36242825
DOI: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2022.10.002 -
Journal of Nephrology Dec 2018Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is localized between the myocardial surface and visceral layer of the pericardium. It is a metabolically active organ that secretes... (Review)
Review
Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is localized between the myocardial surface and visceral layer of the pericardium. It is a metabolically active organ that secretes several cytokines which modulate cardiovascular morphology and function. EAT may interact locally with coronary arteries through paracrine secretion mechanisms. Cytokines from peri-adventitial EAT may pass through the coronary wall by diffusion from the outside to the inside, interacting with cells. An additional potential mechanism by which EAT interacts locally with coronary arteries may be the vasocrine secretion.EAT may play a significant role as a modulator of cardiac functions. In physiologic conditions, EAT has biochemical cardio-protective properties, secreting anti-atherosclerosis substances; in metabolic disease states, EAT secretes bioactive molecules that may play an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease and cardiac arrhythmias by promoting atherosclerosis. EAT has been evaluated both in the general population and in metabolic disease states that are characterized by inflammation, such as cardiovascular diseases and chronic kidney disease.This review focuses on the current state of knowledge on EAT as a reliable new parameter for cardiovascular risk stratification in high risk populations.
Topics: Adipokines; Adipose Tissue; Adiposity; Animals; Cardiovascular Diseases; Humans; Pericardium; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 29704210
DOI: 10.1007/s40620-018-0491-5 -
General Thoracic and Cardiovascular... May 2017Despite recent advances in surgical technique and perioperative care, the surgical correction of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) remains a challenge.... (Review)
Review
Despite recent advances in surgical technique and perioperative care, the surgical correction of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) remains a challenge. The major complication and the main cause of reoperation in TAPVC surgery are the occurrence of pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO). In the 1990s, sutureless repair was introduced as a technique to relieve PVO after TAPVC repair. Following the favorable outcomes for postoperative PVO, the indications for sutureless repair as a primary operation have been expanded to include infants who have preoperative PVO or those at risk of developing PVO after the repair of TAPVC. However, the indications of "prophylactic" primary sutureless repair still remain controversial. Recent studies have shown that normal-risk patients have excellent early and long-term outcomes and a low incidence of reoperation for postoperative PVO. Most patients who survived beyond 2 years after TAPVC surgery were in NYHA class I and offered good outcomes. Although favorable early and mid-term outcomes of primary sutureless repair are reported, the long-term outcomes of this technique are still unclear. The influence of non-contractile pericardial tissue interposed between the PV vessel wall and LA myocardium on the atrial function is also unclear in patients who undergo sutureless repair. Another disadvantage of primary sutureless repair is potential bleeding from the gap between the confluence and pericardium into the posterior mediastinum or pleural cavity. Thus, it might be best for primary sutureless repair to be indicated for high-risk infants, such as those with TAPVC associated with single-ventricular physiology, mixed-type TAPVC, or small PV confluence.
Topics: Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Pulmonary Circulation; Pulmonary Veins; Reoperation; Sutureless Surgical Procedures; Vascular Malformations; Vascular Surgical Procedures
PubMed: 28332089
DOI: 10.1007/s11748-017-0769-x -
Indian Journal of Thoracic and... Sep 2021Constrictive pericarditis is a great mimic and has posed a diagnostic dilemma since its first description 300 years ago as "Concretio Cordis." It can mimic restrictive...
Constrictive pericarditis is a great mimic and has posed a diagnostic dilemma since its first description 300 years ago as "Concretio Cordis." It can mimic restrictive cardiomyopathy, endomyocardial fibrosis, and chronic liver and renal disease. This would perhaps be the first clinical report of constriction in patients undergoing cardiac transplantation. We report two distinct cases with cardiomyopathy requiring cardiac transplantation and the clinical implications of concomitant pericardial constriction. While the first case mimics a natural "cardiac support device," which addresses ventricular remodeling in heart failure by reducing the wall stress, the second case is a case in point against the use of "biological pericardial membrane-like the bovine pericardium," as a pericardial substitute.
PubMed: 34511768
DOI: 10.1007/s12055-021-01157-6 -
Trauma Case Reports Dec 2023Perforating chest wall injuries involving the pericardial sac in pediatric patients are exceedingly rare and pose a unique clinical challenge. Thoracic trauma in the...
UNLABELLED
Perforating chest wall injuries involving the pericardial sac in pediatric patients are exceedingly rare and pose a unique clinical challenge. Thoracic trauma in the pediatric population remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. We present a case of an 8-year-old boy with an acute history of a sharp injection needle embedded in his chest wall presented with severe chest pain and diaphoresis. Diagnostic evaluations included computed tomography revealed a hyperdense focus with a metallic artefact seen impacted in the interventricular septa and perforating the heart. He underwent a thoracotomy and cardioplegic arrest for needle retrieval and subsequent cardiac repair. Our case underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, meticulous monitoring, and a profound understanding of the unique anatomical considerations in pediatric chest injuries.
SUMMARY
This article presents a rare and challenging case of an 8-year-old male who arrived at the emergency department with a sharp injection needle embedded in his chest wall. Despite being relatively rare in children, thoracic injuries can be severe and potentially life-threatening. A fast and accurate diagnostic approach is crucial to prevent fatal complications. Thoracic trauma in the pediatric population remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Timely diagnosis and appropriate interventions are critical in improving patient outcomes. The presented case highlights the need for caution and a well-planned approach in managing such rare and complex injuries in children.
PubMed: 37964982
DOI: 10.1016/j.tcr.2023.100962