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Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med 2019 Feb 4;3(1):47-50. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

University of Rochester Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Rochester, New York.

We report a case of acute necrotizing eosinophilic myocarditis (ANEM) secondary to drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) related to administration of minocycline. Myocarditis is a rare complication of DRESS and can manifest as either a self-limited hypersensitivity myocarditis or as the frequently fatal ANEM. Due to the high morbidity and mortality caused by this disease, emergency physicians should be aware of the potential of ANEM in patients with history of DRESS and new-onset cardiac dysfunction. Read More

Int J Nanomedicine 2019 29;14:851-863. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA,

Purpose: This study was carried out to investigate the effects of a triptolide (TP) nanosuspension and methotrexate (MTX) nanosuspension on left ventricular remodeling and cardiac function for autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) in rats. The regulating effects on inflammatory cytokines in the peripheral serum and related mechanisms are also discussed.

Methods: First, TP and MTX were prepared as a nanosuspension, and the EAM model was successfully established in rats with cardiac myosin. Read More

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2019 Jan;99(5):343-348

Department of Cardiology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou 450000, China.

To compare and analyze the differentially expressed plasma exosomic proteome between healthy control group (Control group) and viral myocarditis group (VMC group) to search for biomarkers that maybe used for early diagnosis of VMC. Fifty plasma samples of Control group and VMC group were collected respectively from Henan Provincial People's Hospital (from January 2016 to December 2017), and then 5 samples (1 ml) of each group were selected randomly, after exosomes extraction with ultra-centrifugation, difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) was used to isolate the total proteins, and then the protein spots with more than 2-fold changes between VMC and Control group were picked up after the software analysis, afterward, the varied proteins were identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. Finally, the specifically related protein was selected to be verified by ELISA with the plasma exosomic samples of Control (40) and VMC (40). Read More

Anat Histol Embryol 2019 Feb 17. Epub 2019 Feb 17.

Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Turin, Italy.

Anitschkow cells (AC) are a peculiar type of stromal cells observed in myocardium, cardiac valves and coronary vessels wall whose origin, characterization and role remain controversial. In human heart, they represent a histological hallmark of Aschoff nodules in rheumatic fever, but they have also been observed in other myocardial pathologies. Firstly, they have been considered a myocyte-derived cells, but light microscopy, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies pointed out that a macrophagic/histiocytic origin cannot be excluded. Read More

Autoimmun Rev 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Laboratory of the Mosaics of Autoimmunity, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation; Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Affiliated to Tel-Aviv University School of Medicine, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is an unexpected death due to cardiac causes that occurs in a short time period (generally within 1 h of symptom onset) in a person with known or unknown cardiac disease. Patients with cardiomyopathies, myocarditis, ischemic heart disease and cardiac channelopathies are at risk of SCD. However, a certain percentage of autopsy-negative cases of SCD in the young (<35 years) remain unexplained even after a post-mortem genetic testing. Read More

JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Bristol Heart Institute, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom; School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; Bristol National Institute of Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre, Bristol, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Objectives: This study sought to assess the prognostic impact of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and conventional risk factors in patients with myocardial infarction with nonobstructed coronaries (MINOCA).

Background: Myocardial infarction with nonobstructed coronary arteries (MINOCA) represents a diagnostic dilemma, and the prognostic markers have not been clarified.

Methods: A total of 388 consecutive patients with MINOCA undergoing cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) assessment were identified retrospectively from a registry database and prospectively followed for a primary clinical endpoint of all-cause mortality. Read More

Nat Rev Cardiol 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.

The role of inflammation in cardiovascular disease (CVD) is now widely accepted. Immune cells, including T cells, are influenced by inflammatory signals and contribute to the onset and progression of CVD. T cell activation is modulated by T cell co-stimulation and co-inhibition pathways. Read More

Joint Bone Spine 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

AP-HP, Service de Rhumatologie, Hôpital Bichat, 75018 Paris, France. Electronic address:

Int J Infect Dis 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Institute of Infectious Disease and Epidemiology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.

Zika virus infections in immunocompetent adults typically are asymptomatic or cause mild symptoms, but have also been associated with neurological complications including Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Zika virusassociated non-neurological fatalities in adults are rare. Herein, we describe a decedent with multiple commodities who developed an acute febrile illness with rash days prior to death. Read More

Phytother Res 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy.

Cannabis (medical marijuana) is generally considered a low toxicity drug. The plant belongs to the family Cannabaceae (Urticales). Two main species may be recognized: Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica. Read More

Cureus 2018 Dec 3;10(12):e3677. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Internal Medicine, National Institute of Child Health, Karachi, PAK.

Eosinophilic myocarditis (EM) is a rare form of myocarditis. As there is extreme diversity in its manifestations, the true incidence is difficult to assess and no proper epidemiological criteria are present. It generally presents with a wide array of clinical manifestations. Read More

Cureus 2018 Dec 3;10(12):e3674. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Cardiology, Aventura Hospital and Medical Center, Aventura, USA.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) can produce painful, cutaneous lesions in human beings. Reactivation of this neurotropic virus leads to herpes zoster or shingles: a painful, unilateral, vesicular eruption in a restricted dermatomal distribution. Rarely, reactivation of this virus can lead to cardiac complications, such as myocarditis and even conduction abnormalities. Read More

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Non-invasive Cardiovascular Imaging, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has become a key investigative tool in patients with suspected myocarditis. However, the prognostic implications of T1 mapping, including extracellular volume (ECV) calculation, is less clear. Patients with suspected myocarditis who underwent CMR evaluation, including T1 mapping at our institution were included. Read More

Clin Res Cardiol 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department of Medicine III (Interdisciplinary Medical Intensive Care), Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.

Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Feb;12(2):e008504

Cardiology Department, Gabriele Monasterio Foundation-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Region Toscana, Pisa, Italy (F.P., G.D.A.).

Circulation 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Medical and Molecular Virology EA4684, Laboratoire de Virologie médicale et moléculaire, et EA-4684, Hôpital Robert Debré, France.

Background: Group B enteroviruses are common causes of acute myocarditis which can be a precursor of chronic myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), leading causes of heart transplantation. To date, the specific viral functions involved in the development of DCM remain unclear.

Methods: Total RNA from cardiac tissue of patients suffering from DCM was extracted, and sequences corresponding to the 5' termini of enterovirus RNAs were identified. Read More

Ann Pediatr Cardiol 2019 Jan-Apr;12(1):53-55

Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi, India.

Tuberculat myocarditis is an extremely rare entity with few published reports. We report a 13 year old male who presented with ventriculat tachycardia. On evaluation he was observed to have MRI features and workup consistent with nodular variant of tubercular myocarditis. Read More

Int Heart J 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Division of Cardiology, Gunma Prefectural Cardiovascular Center.

A 28-year-old female presented with fulminant lymphocytic myocarditis. She developed cardiogenic shock, frequent sustained ventricular tachycardia, and fibrillation (VT and VF). The left ventricular ejection fraction improved from 5% to 40% after medical therapy, but the right ventricular systolic dysfunction and enlargement persisted. Read More

Int Heart J 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

The efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in the treatment of acute myocarditis remains controversial. The aim of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of IVIG in children and adults with acute myocarditis.We searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Medline, the Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and the ClinicalTrials. Read More

Int Heart J 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of General Medicine, East Medical District of Linyi People's Hospital.

Emodin is a natural product extracted from Rheum palmatum. There are few recent studies on emodin in the treatment of myocarditis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of emodin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory injury in cardiomyocytes. Read More

Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Feb;12(2):e008736

Department of Cardiovascular, Nephrologic, Anesthesiologic and Geriatric Sciences, La Sapienza University of Rome (A.F., C.C.).

Autoimmun Rev 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Institute of Rheumatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli - Presidio Columbus, Rome, Italy. Electronic address:

Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2019 Jan 4;7(1):162-173. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Medical School, University of Prishtina, Prishtina, Kosovo.

Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium with a broad spectrum of clinical presentations, ranging from mild symptoms to severe heart failure. The course of patients with myocarditis is heterogeneous, varying from partial or full clinical recovery in a few days to advanced low cardiac output syndrome requiring mechanical circulatory support or heart transplantation. Myocarditis is a very heterogeneous disease, especially in the pediatric age group as worldwide disease myocarditis has been defined by the World Health Organization/International Society and Federation of Cardiology as an inflammatory disease of the heart muscle diagnosed by established histological, immunologic, and immunohistological criteria. Read More

Joint Bone Spine 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Unit of Immunology, Rheumatology, Allergy and Rare diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.

Perfusion 2019 Feb 8:267659118824219. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Intensive Care Unit, The Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.

Background:: The Swan-Ganz catheter is a reliable method used to monitor hemodynamics in intensive care units. Pump-controlled retrograde trial off is a new weaning test for veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in recent years. The objective of this report is to describe a case in which pulmonary artery flotation catheter hemodynamic monitoring in combination with pump-controlled retrograde trial off was sufficient for veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation weaning. Read More

Gastroenterol Res Pract 2019 13;2019:3012509. Epub 2019 Jan 13.

Department of Internal Medicine, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi 700111, Romania.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to a group of chronic inflammatory diseases that targets mainly the gastrointestinal tract. The clinical presentation of IBD includes both gastrointestinal manifestations and extraintestinal manifestations (EIM). The reported cardiovascular manifestations in IBD patients include pericarditis, myocarditis, venous and arterial thromboembolism, arrhythmias, atrioventricular block, heart failure, endocarditis, valvulopathies, and Takayasu arteritis. Read More

Front Cardiovasc Med 2019 23;6. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have changed the treatment landscape of advanced cancers. Unfortunately, these agents can induce a wide spectrum of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) through activation of immune responses in non-target organs, including the heart. As the clinical use of ICI therapy increases rapidly, management of irAEs is becoming extremely important. Read More

JCI Insight 2019 Feb 7;4(3). Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Departments of Biomedical Sciences and Pediatrics, Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Immunology.

Kawasaki disease (KD), the leading cause of acquired cardiac disease among children, is often associated with myocarditis that may lead to long-term myocardial dysfunction and fibrosis. Although those myocardial changes develop during the acute phase, they may persist for decades and closely correlate with long-term myocardial sequelae. Using the Lactobacillus casei cell wall extract-induced (LCWE-induced) KD vasculitis murine model, we investigated long-term cardiovascular sequelae, such as myocardial dysfunction, fibrosis, and coronary microvascular lesions following adrenergic stimuli after established KD vasculitis. Read More

Folia Biol (Praha) 2018 ;64(4):113-124

Institute of Pathological Physiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.

Human body reacts to physical, chemical and biological insults with a complex inflammatory reaction. Crucial components and executors of this response are endothelial cells, platelets, white blood cells, plasmatic coagulation system, and complement. Endothelial injury and inflammation are associated with elevated blood levels of cell membrane-derived microvesicles. Read More

MBio 2019 Feb 5;10(1). Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) is a picornavirus that produces lytic infections in murine and human cells. Employing a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screen to find host factors required for EMCV infection, we identified a role for ADAM9 in EMCV infection. CRISPR-mediated deletion of ADAM9 in multiple human cell lines rendered the cells highly resistant to EMCV infection and cell death. Read More

Cardiovasc Res 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Department of Pathology Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

T lymphocyte-mediated immune responses in the heart are potentially dangerous because they can interfere with the electromechanical function. Furthermore, the myocardium has limited regenerative capacity to repair damage caused by effector T cells. Myocardial T cell responses are normally suppressed by multiple mechanisms of central and peripheral tolerance. Read More

Ann Parasitol 2018 ;64(4):309-315

Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences, ul. Głęboka 30, 20-612 Lublin, Poland

Bartonellosis is a disease caused by Bartonella spp. microorganisms which belong to the Rickettsiales order. This disease is a zoonosis, B. Read More

J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Department of Cardiothoracic Science, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Udine, Udine, Italy.

: Heart transplantation is a life-saving therapy for some patients admitted for acute myocarditis. However, controversial exists about the major risk of rejection following heart transplantation in specific types of myocarditis. Because of relatively few data on the post heart transplant outcomes, we report the long-term follow-up of a 39-year-old patient with a previous history of ulcerative colitis, which rapidly worsened heart failure until an emergency heart transplant in 2004. Read More

Cytokine 2019 Apr 1;116:139-149. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Department of Cardiology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address:

Background: Adiponectin is a hormone that together with its receptors modulates a number of metabolic processes including gluconeogenesis and lipid catabolism. It belongs to the C1QTNF (complement C1q tumor necrosis factor-related protein) family, which has a variety of members with high amino acid sequence homology and overlapping functions. Concentration of adiponectin in blood is inversely correlated with body fat percentage and cardiac risk factors like blood pressure and CRP (C-reactive protein) level. Read More

Cardiovasc Res 2019 02 2. Epub 2019 Feb 2.

Division of Cardiology, Cardio-Oncology Program, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.

Cardiovascular toxicities associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been reported in case series but have been underappreciated due to difficulties in diagnosis and non-specific clinical manifestations. ICIs are antibodies that block negative regulators of the T cell immune response, including cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein-4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), and PD-1 ligand (PD-L1). While ICIs have introduced a significant mortality benefit in several cancer types, the augmented immune response has led to a range of immune-related toxicities, including cardiovascular toxicity. Read More

Eur J Heart Fail 2019 Feb 4. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Cardiology, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Fibrosis is a pivotal player in heart failure development and progression. Measurements of (markers of) fibrosis in tissue and blood may help to diagnose and risk stratify patients with heart failure, and its treatment may be effective in preventing heart failure and its progression. A lack of pathophysiological insights and uniform definitions has hampered the research in fibrosis and heart failure. Read More

Eur J Heart Fail 2019 Feb 4. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Cardiovascular Department, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy.

Virology 2019 Mar 30;529:169-176. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

The Smidt Heart Institute and the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States. Electronic address:

Coxsackievirus B is a significant human pathogen and is a leading cause of myocarditis. We and others have observed that certain enteroviruses including coxsackievirus B cause infected cells to shed extracellular vesicles containing infectious virus. Recent reports have shown that vesicle-bound virus can infect more efficiently than free virus. Read More

Pediatr Rev 2019 Feb;40(2):60-70

Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, and Advanced Heart Failure Unit, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX.

Congestive heart failure is a final common clinical pathway for several diseases in childhood, such as familial cardiomyopathy, viral myocarditis, inborn errors of metabolism, and autoimmune disorders. Early identification and treatment can reduce symptom severity and may affect outcomes. In this review, the clinical characteristics of pediatric heart failure are described, and the initial diagnostic evaluation is outlined. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Feb 1;12(2). Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Cardiology, University of California Riverside School of Medicine, Riverside, California, USA.

We herein describe a case of acute myocarditis which may mimic myocardial infarction, since affected patients experience 'typical' chest pain, the ECG changes are identical to those observed in acute coronary syndromes, and serum markers are increased. This case emphasises the importance of performing appropriate cardiac MRI to help in the differential and definitive diagnosis as well as the extent of myocardial involvement. ST elevation myocardial infarction is rare in young adults and when it is encountered, it should raise the differential diagnosis of its mimickers. Read More

BMC Microbiol 2019 Feb 1;19(1):28. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany.

Background: Diphtheria toxin (DT) is produced by toxigenic strains of the human pathogen Corynebacterium diphtheriae as well as zoonotic C. ulcerans and C. pseudotuberculosis. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2019 Jan 30;87:421-437. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Norwegian College of Fishery Science, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries & Economics, University of Tromsø, The Arctic University of Norway, Norway. Electronic address:

Viral diseases represent one of the major threats for salmonid aquaculture. Survival from viral infections are highly dependent on host innate antiviral immune defense, where interferons are of crucial importance. Neutralizing antibodies and T cell effector mechanisms mediate long-term antiviral protection. Read More

Virus Genes 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.

Bungowannah virus, which belongs to the genus Pestivirus within the family Flaviviridae, has been associated with myocarditis and a high incidence of stillbirths in pigs. In 2003, the virus was initially detected in a large pig farming complex on two separate sites in New South Wales, Australia. Until now, it has not been detected at other locations. Read More

Med J Armed Forces India 2019 Jan 16;75(1):102-105. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Consultant (Medicine and Cardiology), Command Hospital (Air Force), Bengaluru, India.

Ter Arkh 2018 Nov;90(11):112-119

I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.

In the modern clinic of internal diseases, the specific gravity of the infectious pathology, manifested by various clinical syndromes, is increasing. Infectious pathology is represented by diseases of the respiratory system, heart disease (infective endocarditis, cardioimplant infections, viral myocarditis), infectious arthropathies, extrahepatic manifestations of viral hepatitis, cytopenic syndromes, various manifestations of sepsis and some other conditions.In most cases, the diagnosis and management of such patients is the responsibility of the internist, who must be able to suspect the infection and carry out its verification. Read More

J Thorac Dis 2018 Dec;10(Suppl 35):S4400-S4404

Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have started revolutionizing the treatment of numerous advanced oncological diseases by restoring immune resistance against cancer cells. ICI-associated cardiac adverse effects are rare, but severe. About 50% of cardiac complications comprise myocarditis with variable clinical presentation and a high rate of fatality. Read More

J Thorac Dis 2018 Dec;10(Suppl 35):S4323-S4334

Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.

The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors have greatly improved clinical outcomes in several cancer types, revolutionizing the management of a wide variety of tumors endowed with poor prognosis. Despite its success, high grade immune related adverse events were observed in patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors. While cardiotoxicity was largely underestimated in initial studies, numerous reports of fulminant myocarditis and fatal heart failure (HF) have been recently described. Read More

J Thorac Dis 2018 Dec;10(Suppl 35):S4282-S4295

Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, West German Heart and Vascular Center, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.

Progress in cancer therapy over the past decades improved long-term survival but increased cancer therapy-related cardiotoxicity. Many novel treatment options have been implemented with yet incompletely characterized cardiovascular side effects including heart failure, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, valvular disease, venous thromboembolism and myocarditis. Diagnosis of potential cardiotoxic side effects is essential for an optimal treatment but remains challenging. Read More

Nat Rev Cardiol 2019 Mar;16(3):132

Nature Reviews Cardiology, .