Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Immunol 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia;

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a leading cause of pediatric heart disease, characterized by the emergence of life-threatening coronary vasculitis. Identifying which cytokines drive KD has been a major research goal, and both TNF and IL-1 have been identified as potential candidates. Using a murine model of KD induced by the injection of the water-soluble component of , we therefore undertook a mechanistic study to determine how and when these two cytokines mediate cardiac inflammation. Read More

Cardiol J 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, China.

Background: The role of miR-1 and miR-133 in regulating the expression of potassium and calcium ion channels, and mediating cardiomyocyte apoptosis in mice with viral myocarditis (VMC) is investigated herein.

Methods: Male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into groups: control group, VMC group, VMC + miR-1/133 mimics group, or VMC + miR-1/133 negative control (NC) group. VMC was induced with coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3). Read More

Magn Reson Med 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

DZHK, German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Berlin, Germany.

Purpose: Myocardial blood-flow simulation based on laws of fluid mechanics is a valuable tool for understanding tissue behavior. Our aim is to evaluate the ability of a porous-media flow model approach to reflect disturbed washout of contrast media (CM) from the myocardium as observed by cardiovascular MR.

Methods: A coupled advection-diffusion model is used to describe the CM flow in the vascular and extravascular space as separate compartments. Read More

Oxid Med Cell Longev 2019 7;2019:9496419. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Children's Heart Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Institute of Cardiovascular Development and Translational Medicine, The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China.

Background: Cardiomyocyte apoptosis is critical for the development of coxsackievirus B3- (CVB3-) induced myocarditis, which is a common cardiac disease that may result in heart failure or even sudden death. Previous studies have associated CVB3-induced apoptosis with the downregulation of antiapoptotic proteins. Here, attempts were made to examine whether nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), especially 34-nAChRs, were a novel therapeutic antiapoptotic target via the activation of survivin, a strong antiapoptotic protein, in viral myocarditis (VMC). Read More

Front Immunol 2019 29;10:634. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.

Innate lymphoid cells (ILC) are a subset of leukocytes with lymphoid properties that lack antigen specific receptors. They can be stimulated by and exert their effect via specific cytokine axes, whereas Natural Killers (NK) cells are the only known cytotoxic member of this family. ILCs are considered key in linking the innate and adaptive response in physiologic and pathologic environments. Read More

Phytomedicine 2019 Apr 3;59:152916. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Clinical Pharmacology Institute, Nanchang University, Bayi road 461#, Nanchang 330006, PR China. Electronic address:

Background: Shengmai Formula (SMF) is widely used to treat cardiovascular disease such as chronic heart disease, coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, viral myocarditis, and others. Our previous studies have shown that OATP1B1/1B3 mediates the interactions between ophiopogon D and ginsenoside Rb1/Rd, which are the major active components in SMF. The herb-drug interactions that involve sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP) have been drawing increasing amounts of attention. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Cardiology, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Via Fatebenefratelli, 34, 34170, Gorizia, GO, Italy.

We report a case of a 56-year-old woman with an alleged diagnosis of an acute coronary syndrome that was later correctly identified in our Cardiology Unit as antisynthetase syndrome (AS) with inflammatory cardiac involvement. In this case report, we focus on clinical features of this rare autoimmune disease aiming to provide useful tips to achieve correct differential diagnosis according to updated international guidelines and recommendations, especially in cases of concurrent disease-related myocarditis. Read More

Acute Med Surg 2019 Apr 10;6(2):192-196. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

The Emergency and Critical Care Center Mie University Hospital Tsu Mie Japan.

Case: Fulminant myocarditis (FM) and septic cardiomyopathy (SC) are two different disease entities, and distinction between them is important. A 34-year-old man had refractory shock, multiple organ failure, and elevation of cardiogenic markers. Echocardiogram showed tachycardia with extended ST elevation, and a rapid test for influenza A virus was positive. Read More

J Med Virol 2019 Apr 10. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Viral myocarditis is inflammation of the myocardium mainly caused by a viral infection, and coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection is one of the most common. It is well known that cardiomyocyte apoptosis is involved in the pathogenesis of viral myocarditis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are endogenous noncoding oligoribonucleotides involved in various pathological conditions, and miR-34a is one of the miRNAs causing apoptosis. Read More

World J Clin Cases 2019 Mar;7(6):705-716

Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada.

First described in 1996, the drug reaction, eosinophilia, and systemic symptoms syndrome (DReSS) is considered, along with Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, a severe cutaneous drug reaction. It is characterized by the presence of a maculopapular erythematous skin eruption, fever, lymphadenopathy, influenza-like symptoms, eosinophilia, and visceral involvement such as hepatitis, pneumonitis, myocarditis, pericarditis, nephritis, and colitis. The prognosis of patients with DReSS is related to the severity of visceral involvement. Read More

Cureus 2019 Jan 29;11(1):e3978. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Cardiology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, USA.

Mesalamine is often used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Mesalamine-induced cardiotoxicity has been reported in the literature and is a rare entity. The mechanism of cardiotoxicity remains unclear, however, it is believed to be due to a humoral-mediated hypersensitivity reaction. Read More

Heart 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Clinical Research and Imaging Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

PLoS Pathog 2019 Apr 8;15(4):e1007674. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America.

Viral myocarditis is a serious disease, commonly caused by type B coxsackieviruses (CVB). Here we show that innate immune protection against CVB3 myocarditis requires the IFIT (IFN-induced with tetratricopeptide) locus, which acts in a biphasic manner. Using IFIT locus knockout (IFITKO) cardiomyocytes we show that, in the absence of the IFIT locus, viral replication is dramatically increased, indicating that constitutive IFIT expression suppresses CVB replication in this cell type. Read More

Open Forum Infect Dis 2019 Apr 15;6(4):ofz081. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Division of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Epidemiology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto, Canada.

Background: There exists a knowledge gap in identifying the spectrum of infectious pathogens and syndromes that lead to fulminant decline and death. The aim of this study was to better characterize patient-, pathogen-, and disease-related factors in the phenomenon of unexpected infectious deaths.

Methods: We conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study of all community-based, unexpected infectious deaths in Ontario, Canada between January 2016 and December 2017. Read More

EXCLI J 2019 24;18:21-29. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Department of Internal Cardiology, the Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.

Macrophages are important mediators of inflammatory cardiovascular diseases, and various macrophage phenotypes exert opposite effects during inflammation. In our previous study, we proved that suppressed androgen receptor (AR) alleviated inflammation during experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). As anti-inflammatory cells, whether M2 macrophages are involved in this process remains unclear. Read More

J Nucl Cardiol 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Division of Cardiovascular Disease, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.

"A quick glance at selected topics in this issue" aims to highlight contents of the Journal and provide a quick review to the readers. Read More

Cardiovasc Toxicol 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Medical Toxicology and Drug Abuse Research Center (MTDRC), Birjand, 9717853577, Iran.

The mortality rate from aluminum phosphide (AlP) poisoning is as high as 70-100%, with refractory hypotension and severe metabolic acidosis being the two most common presentations in this poisoning. As this poisoning has no specific antidote, treatments revolve around supportive care. Cardiogenic shock created by toxic myocarditis is considered the main cause of mortality in these patients. Read More

Eur Heart J Suppl 2019 Mar 29;21(Suppl B):B90-B95. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Cardiovascular Department, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Trieste e Università degli Studi di Trieste.

Myocarditis is an infectious-inflammatory disease often superimposed to individual genetic background which could favour or inhibit its progression into a chronic heart muscle disorder (most often dilated cardiomyopathy, rarely arrhythmogenic, or right-sided cardiomyopathy). Post-myocarditis cardiomyopathy is likely caused by a complex interaction between the viral infection and an individual predisposition. Some viruses are able to highlight a clinical phenotype replicating a model similar to the genetically determined conditions, while other can affect the resolution or the progressive remodelling of the left ventricle after the infectious process. Read More

Eur Heart J Suppl 2019 Mar 29;21(Suppl B):B19-B22. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Cardiology, Department of Cardiology Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Italy.

Heart 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.

Background: Invasive angiography in the setting of cardiac troponin elevation may reveal non-obstructive coronary arteries leading to uncertainty in diagnosis. Cardiac MR (CMR) may aid in diagnosis, however, the spectrum of diagnostic findings in the patient presenting with symptoms of cardiac ischaemia, elevated cardiac biomarkers and a negative invasive coronary angiogram is yet to be completely described.

Methods: We queried the Mayo Clinic, Rochester inpatient record from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2016 to identify patients who: (1) had an elevated troponin T during admission, (2) underwent coronary angiography within 30 days of troponin T elevation which was considered negative for obstructive coronary arterial disease and (3) underwent CMR within 30 days of troponin T elevation. Read More

Microb Cell Fact 2019 Apr 4;18(1):66. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

The Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China.

Background: Oral vaccine is highly desired for infectious disease which is caused by pathogens infection through the mucosal surface. The design of suitable vaccine delivery system is ongoing for the antigen protection from the harsh gastric environment and target to the Peyer's patches to induce sufficient mucosal immune responses. Among various potential delivery systems, bacterial inclusion bodies have been widely used as delivery systems in the field of nanobiomedicine. Read More

Dose Response 2019 Jan-Mar;17(1):1559325819827436. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Institute of Pediatrics in First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China.

Aims: Metformin has been shown to play a protective role in diabetes. However, we found that metformin could mediate myocardial protection. Given that protein kinase C eplison (PKCε) and interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) are critical for cardioprotection signaling. Read More

J Clin Med Res 2019 Apr 18;11(4):225-236. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Department of Medicine, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, NJ, USA.

In recent years the use of immunomodulating therapy to treat various cancers has been on the rise. Three checkpoint inhibitors have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (ipilimumab, pembrolizumab and nivolumab). The use of these drugs comes with serious adverse events related to excessive immune activation, collectively known as immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Read More

Crit Care Nurse 2019 Apr;39(2):15-28

Bridget K. Dittman is a clinical nurse practice leader in the intensive care unit at Einstein Center Montgomery in East Norriton, Pennsylvania.

Introduction: Only a few cases of biventricular cardiogenic shock have been treated with Impella circulatory assist devices in the United States.

Clinical Findings: A 29-year-old man came to the emergency department because of cough, shortness of breath, fever, and chills. Initial assessment revealed hypotension; an elevated creatinine level of 2. Read More

Zhonghua Er Ke Za Zhi 2019 Apr;57(4):272-276

Heart Center, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, First Hospital of Tsinghua University, Beijing 100016, China.

To assess the clinical characteristics, pathogenic genes and therapeutic effects of congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) in children. A retrospective analysis included 58 LQTS children (37 boys, 21 girls; age of diagnosis (8.0±4. Read More

PLoS One 2019 1;14(4):e0209534. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Department of Cardiology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is a non-structural extracellular matrix protein that regulates interactions between the matrix and neighboring cells. In the cardiovascular system, it is expressed by cardiac fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and at lower levels by ventricular cardiomyocytes. SPARC expression levels are increased upon myocardial injury and also during hypertrophy and fibrosis. Read More

Anatol J Cardiol 2019 Mar;21(4):234-235

Department of Cardiology, Health Sciences University, Dr. Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Center Training and Research Hospital; İstanbul-Turkey.

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Mar 30. Epub 2019 Mar 30.

Clinical and Experimental Radiology Unit, Experimental Imaging Center, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.

To explore the potential role of two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) feature tracking (FT) myocardial strain analysis in identifying sub-clinical myocardial systolic and diastolic dysfunction in acute myocarditis patients with preserved ejection fraction (EF). Prospective two centre study-control study. Thirty patients (9 female, 37. Read More

J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2019 Mar 8. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Department of Anesthesiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE.

A 44-year-old woman was transferred to the authors' institution in cardiogenic shock secondary to a presumed viral myocarditis and subsequently was placed on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a large right atrial mass of unknown etiology and moderate pericardial effusion. The patient was taken to the operating room for surgical removal of the right atrial mass. Read More

Curr Opin Cardiol 2019 May;34(3):303-306

Division of Cardiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this study is to summarize and highlight the recent literature regarding immune checkpoint inhibitor myocarditis.

Recent Findings: The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, a promising form of immunotherapy, is rapidly increasing in oncology. These drugs have been recently found to cause a fulminant myocarditis associated with a high-case fatality rate. Read More

PLoS One 2019 28;14(3):e0214616. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Cardiovascular Department, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata (ASUITS) and University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.

Background: Persistent left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction in patients with acute lymphocytic myocarditis (LM) is widely unexplored.

Objectives: To assess the frequency and predictors of persistent LV dysfunction in patients with LM and reduced LVEF at admission.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively evaluated 89 consecutive patients with histologically-proven acute myocarditis enrolled at three Italian referral hospitals. Read More

J Fish Dis 2019 Mar 28. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Marine Harvest ASA, Bergen, Norway.

Losses due to cardiomyopathy syndrome (CMS) keep increasing in salmon-producing countries in the North-Atlantic. Recently, Piscine myocarditis virus (PMCV) has been detected in post-smolts shortly after sea-transfer, indicating a possible carry-over from the hatcheries. In addition, there are reports of prevalences of PMCV as high as 70%-90% in certain groups of broodfish, and a recent outbreak of CMS in the Faroe Islands has been linked to the importation of eggs from a CMS-endemic area. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Mar 27;9(1):5284. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Department of Neurology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.

The purposes of the present study were to identify anti-striational antibodies in myasthenia gravis (MG) patients with myositis and/or myocarditis using a combination of cell-based assays and flow cytometry (cytometric cell-based assays) and to describe the main clinical implications. Among 2,609 stored samples collected from all over Japan between 2003 and 2016, we had serum samples from 30 MG patients with myositis and/or myocarditis. Cytometric cell-based assays with titin, ryanodine receptor, and voltage-gated Kv1. Read More

Intern Med 2019 Mar 28. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.

A 59-year-old man with a history of giant cell myocarditis was admitted to our hospital with recurrent giant cell myocarditis triggered by a 1 mg/day taper in his prednisolone dose. During the initial episode, he had undergone rescue implantation of a temporary left ventricular assist device followed by the administration of dual immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone and concomitant cyclosporine. Triple combination immunosuppressive therapy maintained with additional mycophenolate mofetil successfully controlled recurrent myocarditis, enabled a reduction in the prednisolone dose, and achieved the functional recovery of the left ventricle. Read More

Arq Bras Cardiol 2019 Mar 7;112(3):240-246. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, AM - Brazil.

Background: In the past two decades, a new epidemiological profile of Chagas' disease (CD) has been registered in the Brazilian Amazon where oral transmission has been indicated as responsible for the increase of acute cases. In the Amazonas state, five outbreaks of acute CD have been registered since 2004. The cardiac manifestations in these cases may be characterized by diffuse myocarditis, with alteration in the electrocardiogram (ECG) and transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). Read More

Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019 Mar;23(5):2208-2215

Intensive Care Unit the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji'nan, Shandong Province, China.

Objective: MicroRNAs are a group of gene expression regulators and some of which have been confirmed to be associated with acute viral myocarditis (VM). This study aims to find new biomarkers for VM diagnosis and explore the roles of miRNAs during the pathogenesis of VM.

Patients And Methods: 23 patients with acute myocarditis and 12 controls were included in this research. Read More

MBio 2019 03 26;10(2). Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Picornaviruses are a widespread group of pathogens that can cause diverse pathologies. Pathogenesis is thought to be driven by the tissue-specific tropisms displayed by these viruses. For example, many picornaviruses can infect the heart and cause viral myocarditis. Read More

ASAIO J 2018 Dec 20. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

We retrospectively reviewed all pertinent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) studies (January 1995 to September 2017) of adults with sepsis as a primary indication for intervention and its association with morbidity and mortality. Collected data included study type, ECMO configuration, outcomes, effect size, and other features. Advanced age was a risk factor for death. Read More

JAMA 2019 03;321(12):1176-1186

Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.

Importance: Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy improves myocardial function, but few patients recover sufficiently for explant, which has focused attention on stem cells to augment cardiac recovery.

Objective: To assess efficacy and adverse effects of intramyocardial injections of mesenchymal precursor cells (MPCs) during LVAD implant.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A randomized phase 2 clinical trial involving patients with advanced heart failure, undergoing LVAD implant, at 19 North American centers (July 2015-August 2017). Read More

J Med Primatol 2019 Mar 25. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas.

We present the first documented case of Trypanosoma cruzi-induced orchitis in a rhesus macaque. Additionally, we describe an in situ hybridization-based assay to confirm T. cruzi infection in formalin-fixed tissues. Read More

Oncologist 2019 Mar 25. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA

ASAIO J 2019 Mar 19. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

From the Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, S. Orsola Hospital, Bologna University, Bologna, Italy.

Peripheral extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) setting remains a valid option to treat cardiogenic shock (CS). We investigated a percutaneous approach to unload the left ventricle (LV) while on veno-arterial (v-a) peripheral ECMO support. Between 2017 and 2018, eight patients (three females, mean age: 49. Read More

J Med Cases 2018 Aug;9(8):239-242

Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA.

Acute myocarditis mimicking ST segment elevation myocardial infarction is a well-known phenomenon, but recurrence and progression are rare. We present a case of a 29-year-old man with three episodes of myocarditis over 3 months including evidence of progressive, patchy inflammation shown by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. Read More

Antiviral Res 2019 Mar 20;166:1-10. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China; Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Immunity and Infection, Harbin, China. Electronic address:

Coxsackievirus group B (CVB) is considered as one of the most common pathogens of human viral myocarditis. CVB-induced myocarditis is mainly characterized by the persistence of the virus infection and immune-mediated inflammatory injury. Costimulatory signals are crucial for the activation of adaptive immunity. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2019 Mar 23;20:381-384. Epub 2019 Mar 23.

Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA.

BACKGROUND Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is defined as hypereosinophilia with eosinophil mediated organ damage or dysfunction, provided that other causes of organ damage have been excluded. CASE REPORT An 83-year-old female presented with worsening dyspnea for 3 weeks. She was initially diagnosed with bronchitis and prescribed oral antibiotics along with prednisone taper. Read More

Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019 7;9:57. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.

Overwhelming cardiac inflammation has been reported to be the pathogenic mechanism of Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)-induced viral myocarditis (VMC), while the detailed molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Membrane-bound dipeptidases (MBD, also known as Dpep) have been shown to be involved in inflammatory diseases. However, the clear and direct evidence of their impacts on inflammation is still lacking. Read More

J Physiol Pharmacol 2018 Dec 18;69(6). Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Department of Hormone Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.

Myocarditis, a life threatening disease, is still not adequately treated. Histamine plays an important role in physiology and pathophysiology of cardiovascular system. All four histamine receptors (HR - HR), are present in the heart. Read More

Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi 2018 Jun 25;34(6):644-647. Epub 2018 Dec 25.

Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.

Objectives: To analyze the forensic characteristics of 24 psychiatric patients who died of long-term use of psychotropic drugs.

Methods: Cases of sudden death of psychiatric patients from 2011 to 2016 were collected. The forensic characteristics of these sudden deaths were retrospectively analyzed by systematic investigation plus results of autopsy and toxics （drugs）. Read More

Curr Med Res Opin 2019 Mar 21. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

b UTIC-Cardiologia, Ospedale San Giovanni di Dio - Melfi - AOR San Carlo Potenza , Italy.

A novel combination consisting of the neprilysin inhibitor, sacubitril, and the angiotensin-receptor blocker, valsartan (belonging to the newly-established class of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors), was shown to be effective in the treatment of heart failure (HF) by improving patient clinical status, reducing re-hospitalization rate and mortality. We report a case of a 29-year old male with HF, dilated cardiomyopathy possibly related to myocarditis, and atrial fibrillation with reduced ejection fraction. Sacubitril/valsartan treatment was initiated after two years of standard treatment. Read More

PLoS One 2019 20;14(3):e0214087. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Pediatric myocarditis symptoms can be mild or as extreme as sudden cardiac arrest. Early identification of the severity of illness and timely provision of critical care is helpful; however, the risk factors associated with mortality remain unclear and controversial. We undertook a retrospective review of the medical records of pediatric patients with myocarditis in a tertiary care referral hospital for over 12 years to identify the predictive factors of mortality. Read More