Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc 2018 11 30;56(4):418-423. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Facultad de Medicina, División de Estudios de Posgrado. Ciudad de México, México

Background: Pulmonary embolism is a potentially fatal heart condition that requires prompt restoration of blood flow in the pulmonary vascular bed and prevention of recurrent events. Mortality is associated to the degree of hemodynamic repercussion, complications and opportunity in the treatment.

Case Report: Male 33 years of age who began with sudden dyspnea, chest pain of moderate intensity, sweating and syncope. Read More

G Ital Cardiol (Rome) 2018 Dec;19(12):668-671

Dipartimento di Cardiologia, Centro Aritmologico, Ospedali del Tigullio, Lavagna (GE).

Int J Eat Disord 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.

Objective: An association between bulimia nervosa (BN) and prolonged corrected QT interval (QTc) in the electrocardiogram has been suggested, but results of previous studies are conflicting, and the risk of cardiac events in patients with BN has yet to be investigated.

Method: We estimated mean QTc interval and relative risk of borderline (QTc >440 ms) and prolonged QTc (QTc >460 ms) between adult women with BN (N = 531) and healthy controls (N = 123). In follow-up analyses, we investigated the risk of a primary endpoint (syncope, ventricular tachycardia, and cardiac arrest) and all-cause mortality in patients with BN (N = 702) compared with a population-based cohort derived from the Danish Civil Register (N = 7,020). Read More

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.

Am J Med 2018 Nov 29. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Division of Heart Rhythm Services, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Electronic address:

Laeknabladid 2018 Dec;104(12):543-548

Department of Psychiatry, National University Hospital of Iceland.

Loperamide is a μ-opioid receptor agonist with antidiarrhoeal effects. It is considered to have a low abuse potential because of substantial first-pass metabolism and P-glycoprotein-mediated efflux at the level of the blood-brain barrier. Previous case reports have described that high dosage of loperamide can induce an opioid-like effect on the central nervous system. Read More

Front Pediatr 2018 19;6:343. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.

To explore the predictive value of immediate heart rate alteration from supine to upright in the differential diagnosis between vasovagal syncope (VVS) and postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) in children. A total of 76 pediatric outpatients or inpatients who visited the Peking University First Hospital from July 2016 to November 2017 were recruited in the study. Among them, 52 patients were diagnosed with VVS and 24 patients were diagnosed with POTS. Read More

Am J Emerg Med 2018 Jun 27. Epub 2018 Jun 27.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Charleston Area Medical Center, Graduate Medical Education, 3110 MacCorkle Avenue S.E., Charleston, WV 25304, USA.

Case Rep Cardiol 2018 25;2018:7089149. Epub 2018 Oct 25.

Department of Cardiology, Maimonides Medical Center, 4802 10th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219, USA.

A 66-year-old female presented to the emergency room with an episode of chest pain that lasted for a few minutes before resolving spontaneously. Electrocardiogram showed a left bundle branch block, left ventricular hypertrophy, and T wave inversions in the lateral leads. Initial cardiac troponin level was 0. Read More

Case Rep Cardiol 2018 18;2018:4192964. Epub 2018 Oct 18.

East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA.

Pacemaker lead fracture is one of the most common causes of pacemaker malfunction and is most frequently associated with weight lifting or chest trauma. These patients usually present with symptoms of dizziness, syncope, chest discomfort, and palpitations or less commonly with extracardiac symptoms. Diagnosis is made by ECG and careful review of chest imaging such as chest X-ray or fluoroscopy. Read More

J Hum Genet 2018 Nov 30. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Center for Statistical Genetics, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.

Sinoatrial node dysfunction and deafness (SANDD) syndrome is rare and characterized by a low heart beat and severe-to-profound deafness. Additional features include fatigue, dizziness, and episodic syncope. The sinoatrial node (SAN) drives heart automaticity and continuously regulates heart rate. Read More

Ir Med J 2018 Apr 19;111(4):740. Epub 2018 Apr 19.

St. Vincent’s University Hospital

Aim The aim of this study is to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs) in the immediate post-fall period. Methods A survey study design was employed using an online questionnaire of all NCHDs in SVUH comprising 15 questions that blend dichotomous, multiple choice, scaled and open-ended questions to determine knowledge, attitudes and practices of NCHDs across three constructs; injury management, falls prevention and fracture prevention. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse data. Read More

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2018 Nov 28. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, Department of Cardiac Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.

Background: Vasovagal syncope (VVS) patients have a reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). There are limited data comparing HRQoL and psychological profile in VVS patients and healthy individuals. We tested the hypothesis that VVS patients have greater impairment in both HRQoL and psychological profile compared to healthy non-fainting individuals, and that both outcome measures are negatively correlated for VVS patients. Read More

Aerosp Med Hum Perform 2018 Dec;89(12):1076-1079

In-flight medical emergencies require healthcare providers to operate in confined spaces with limited resources and delayed access to definitive care. These emergencies are common, with an estimated frequency of 1 per 100 to 1000 flights. Despite this, training for medical response in these environments is limited. Read More

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2018 Nov 28:218492318817665. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Cardiac hydatidosis is a rare presentation of echinococcus granulosus infestation. We report the case of 57-year-old man who presented with syncope due to ventricular tachycardia and was managed with antiarrhythmic drugs for an acute episode. Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging suggested a 1 cm right ventricular hydatid cyst. Read More

Congenit Heart Dis 2018 Nov 28. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, North Carolina.

Dysautonomia is an increasingly recognized yet still poorly understood disease within the field of pediatrics. Symptoms, including dizziness, headaches, fatigue, joint pain, anxiety, and intolerance of heat or cold, are often significant and difficult to sort, especially in terms of their relation to each other. This often leads to referral to multiple subspecialists, who then proceed to treat seemingly familiar symptoms in kind. Read More

Eur J Intern Med 2018 Oct 25. Epub 2018 Oct 25.

Syncope Unit, Department of Geriatrics, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi and University of Florence, Florence, Italy.

Background: Long QT and use of QT-prolonging drugs are common among older patients receiving polytherapies, but real-world evidence on their impact in clinical practice is controversial. We investigated prevalence, variables associated and clinical implications of prolonged corrected QT (QTc) among patients from the Syncope and Dementia study.

Methods: Observational, prospective, multicenter study. Read More

Hippokratia 2017 Jul-Sep;21(3):160

Department of Emergency Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Greece.

HeartRhythm Case Rep 2018 Nov 7;4(11):523-526. Epub 2018 Aug 7.

Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

HeartRhythm Case Rep 2018 Nov 4;4(11):510-513. Epub 2018 Aug 4.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Echocardiography 2018 Nov 26. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska.

Purpose: We sought to assess the trends in use, predictors of echocardiography, and its impact on in-hospital mortality in patients admitted with syncope using a large national database.

Methods: Utilizing the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2001 to 2014, we identified adult patients (>18 years) with a primary discharge diagnosis of syncope and use of echocardiogram was ascertained.

Results: A total of 3 174 619 patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of syncope were identified, of which 184 167 (5. Read More

Immunol Res 2018 Nov 27. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Rheumatology Department, National Institute of Cardiology, Mexico City, Mexico.

This article reviews the case series reported from several countries describing patients with suspected severe side effects to the HPV vaccines. The described symptom clusters are remarkably similar and include disabling fatigue, headache, widespread pain, fainting, gastrointestinal dysmotility, limb weakness, memory impairment episodes of altered awareness, and abnormal movements. This constellation of symptoms and signs has been labeled with different diagnoses such as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), small fiber neuropathy (SFN), myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), or fibromyalgia. Read More

J Pediatr Health Care 2018 Nov 21. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Alexa Beversdorf, Doctorate of Nursing Practice Student, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 701 Highland Ave., Madison, WI.. Electronic address:

Drug Ther Bull 2018 Dec;56(12):143

: Sink KM, Syncope, hypotension and falls in the treatment of hypertension: results from the randomized clinical systolic blood pressure intervention trial. 2018;66:679-86. Read More

Emerg Med J 2018 Nov 23. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Emergency Medicine Research Group Edinburgh (EMERGE), Department of Emergency Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.

Syncope is a common reason for ED attendance and it presents a major management challenge with regard to the appropriate workup and disposition. Nearly 50% of patients are admitted, and for many this is unnecessary; clinical decision rules have not proven to decrease unnecessary admissions. The European Society of Cardiology has recently developed guidance for managing syncope in the ED. Read More

Res Vet Sci 2018 Nov 15;122:72-80. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Wagstaff Food Services Pty Ltd, 15 Moorakyne Avenue, Malvern, VIC 3144, Australia.

DTS: Diathermic Syncope® (DTS) is a novel system for rendering animals insensible prior to slaughter, utilizing microwave energy to induce a rise in temperature in the brain to a point at which the animal is expected to lose consciousness. During development and optimisation of the system, two trials were carried out utilizing non-anaesthetized adult cattle, to gather data on behavioural outcomes and EEG changes following energy application. In trial1, ten cattle received DTS treatments (high energy >290 kJ, n = 3; low energy <200 kJ, n = 4; and intermediate 200 < 290 kJ, n = 3), and seven received captive bolt stunning, prior to exsanguination. Read More

JACC Clin Electrophysiol 2018 Nov 29;4(11):1383-1396. Epub 2018 Aug 29.

Cardiac Electrophysiology Section, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California. Electronic address:

Insertable cardiac monitors (ICMs) are small, subcutaneously implanted devices offering continuous ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring with a lifespan up to 3 years. ICMs have been studied and proven useful in selected cases of unexplained syncope and palpitations, as well as in atrial fibrillation (AF) management. The use of ICMs has greatly improved our ability to detect subclinical AF after cryptogenic stroke, and application of this technology is growing. Read More

J Gen Fam Med 2018 Nov 24;19(6):227. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Department of General Medicine Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital Tochigi Japan.

J Gen Fam Med 2018 Nov 31;19(6):226. Epub 2018 May 31.

Department of Internal Medicine National Hospital Organization Tochigi Medical Center Utsunomiya Tochigi Japan.

World Neurosurg 2018 Oct 25;122:53-57. Epub 2018 Oct 25.

Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA.

Background: Bow hunter syndrome describes a mechanical compression of the vertebral artery on head rotation leading to reversible symptomatic vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Patients are commonly presenting with syncope, vertigo, dizziness, and visual disturbances. These symptoms usually resolve when the head is turned back into neutral position. Read More

Zhonghua Xin Xue Guan Bing Za Zhi 2018 Nov;46(11):887-891

Department of Cardiology, First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650032, China.

To identify the disease-causing mutations in a pedigree with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) from Yunnan province, and analyze the relationship between the genotype and the phenotype. The blood samples and the clinical data of the HCM family members were collected.The coding exons and their flanking intronic regions of 28 previously reported genes related to HCM were screened in the proband by high-throughput sequencing. Read More

PLoS One 2018 21;13(11):e0206936. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Herlev Gentofte Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark.

Background: Syncope could be related to high risk of falls and injury in adults, but documentation is sparse. We examined the association between syncope and subsequent fall-related injuries in a nationwide cohort.

Methods: By cross-linkage of nationwide registers, all residents ≥18 years with a first-time diagnosis of syncope were identified between 1997-2012. Read More

CJEM 2018 Nov 21:1-6. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

†Ottawa Hospital Research Institute,Ottawa, ON.

CLINICIAN'S CAPSULEWhat is known about the topic?A majority of syncope patients are transported to the emergency department by emergency medical services (EMS), yet only a small proportion are admitted or suffer serious adverse events (SAE).What did this study ask?What proportion of EMS syncope patient transports are at low risk (i.e. Read More

Turk Pediatri Ars 2018 Sep 1;53(3):197-199. Epub 2018 Sep 1.

Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Necip Fazıl City Hospital, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey.

Various rhythm and connection disorders can be seen in the acute phase of acute rheumatic fever. First degree atrioventricular block, one of the minor signs of acute rheumatic fever, is the most common connection disturbance in this disease. Complete atrioventricular block, which seriously affects the conduction pathways, is rare in the literature. Read More

Turk J Gastroenterol 2018 Nov 19. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Institute for Digestive Research, Digestive Disease Center, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Background/aims: In South Korea, the flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) has been increasingly performed by gastroenterologists. The principal concern was the safety of the FEES performed by gastroenterologists without any involvement of speech-language pathologists. We aimed to characterize the safety and tolerance of gastroenterologist-directed FEES examinations (GDFEES). Read More

J Atr Fibrillation 2018 Jun-Jul;11(1):1883. Epub 2018 Jun 30.

Division of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Madinah Cardiac Centre, Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

Ventricular arrhythmias are life-threatening and can serve as a precursor to sudden death. They are a common presentation in patients with severely reduced left ventricular (LV) function. The use of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is seen as an acceptable therapy against malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Read More

Ann Emerg Med 2018 Dec;72(6):675-678

Department of Emergency Medicine, Methodist Hospital System, San Antonio, TX.

Geriatr Psychol Neuropsychiatr Vieil 2018 Nov 16. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Université Anglia Ruskin, Health and Wellbeing academy, Cambridge, Royaume-Uni, Département universitaire de médecine et santé communautaires, Centre hospitalier universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Suisse.

The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism remains difficult. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of age on the clinical presentation mode and the sensitivity of the diagnostic scores.

Methods: In retrospect, all patients discharged with a documented diagnosis of pulmonary embolism from the adult emergency service of the Regional university hospital of Strasbourg (France) over a year were considered. Read More

Br J Neurosurg 2018 Nov 19:1-6. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

a Department of Neurosurgery , Military Institute of Medicine , Warsaw , Poland.

Purpose: Management of patients presenting for various nonspecific complaints without clear neurological abnormalities and with normal ventricular size remains highly controversial. We intended to share our rationale for surgical treatment of patients who show symptoms of transient increase of intracranial pressure owing to the presence of the cyst.

Materials And Methods: We have retrospectively analyzed 28 cases of patients who presented without Parinaud syndrome nor ventricular enlargement and underwent pineal cyst removal in our centre between 2007 and 2015. Read More

Cardiol Clin 2019 Feb;37(1):63-72

Cardiac Electrophysiology, New York Medical College, Westchester Medical Center Health System, Valhalla, NY, USA. Electronic address:

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD), although perhaps not as significantly as previously believed. Given the heterogeneous nature of this disease entity, risk stratification of individuals with HCM remains challenging. The recent HCM risk-SCD prediction model seems to perform well in assessing individual SCD risk. Read More

Br J Sports Med 2018 Nov 15. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway.

Background: Preparticipation cardiac screening of athletes aims to detect cardiovascular disease at an early stage to prevent sudden cardiac arrests and deaths. Few studies have described the cardiovascular outcomes in athletes classified as negative on screening.

Objective: To identify cardiovascular incidents in a cohort of male professional football players who were cleared to play after a negative screening result. Read More

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2018 Nov 15. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Cardiac Arrhythmia Center, Cardiovascular Division, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

Background: Head-up tilt (HUT) is widely used for diagnostic evaluation of patients with suspected vasovagal syncope (VVS), but also offers an opportunity to study VVS pathophysiology. In this regard, it is known that plasma epinephrine (Epi) levels and Epi / norepinephrine (NE) ratio (Epi/NE) are markedly increased from baseline at the time of HUT-induced VVS. However, whether these changes contribute to VVS susceptibility remains uncertain. Read More

Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2018 Nov 14:1049909118811904. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

2 The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital, Richard Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.

Context:: The effect of methadone on corrected QT interval (QTc) in patients with cancer pain is not well-known.

Objectives:: To describe and characterize the effect of low-, moderate-, and high-dose enteral methadone on QTc interval in patients with cancer.

Methods:: Retrospective cohort study including patients prescribed enteral methadone during the 27-month study period. Read More

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2018 Nov 13. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan.

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2018 Nov 14. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.

Background: Atrial ganglionated plexus (GP) ablation was proved to have therapeutic effects on vasovagal syncope. The study aimed to investigate whether selective ablation of only right anterior GP (ARGP) and right inferior GP (IRGP) was effective in a canine model of vasovagal syncope.

Methods: Seventeen mongrel dogs were divided into control (N = 10) and ablation group (N = 7). Read More

Sci Rep 2018 Nov 13;8(1):16713. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

S.C.U. Medicina d'Urgenza, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, Molinette Hospital, Torino, Italy.

Acute aortic syndromes (AAS) are cardiovascular emergencies with unmet diagnostic needs. Copeptin is released upon stress conditions and is approved for rule-out of myocardial infarction (MI). As MI and AAS share presenting symptoms, stress mechanisms and necessity for rapid diagnosis, copeptin appears as an attractive biomarker also for AAS. Read More

Air Med J 2018 Nov - Dec;37(6):383-387. Epub 2018 Sep 1.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA.

A 15-year-old male presented with exertional syncope and was found to be in an unstable regular wide complex tachyarrhythmia (WCT). After a trial of antiarrhythmic medication, his clinical condition declined, necessitating synchronized cardioversion. Although he noted symptomatic improvement after cardioversion, he was found to be in third-degree heart block. Read More

Eur J Emerg Med 2018 Nov 12. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Hospital of South West Jutland.

Objectives: Every year, several patients are bitten by the common European adder (Vipera berus). The aim of this study is to present a large consecutive case series of patients bitten by V. berus, and to identify signs and symptoms indicative of complicated illness. Read More

Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2018 Nov 12. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

School of Humanities, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

Scurvy is a multisystem condition that arises from vitamin C deficiency. As humans cannot synthesize vitamin C, serum and tissue levels depend on bioavailability, utilization, and renal excretion. Deficiencies result in defective collagen formation with swelling of gums, leg ulceration, and bleeding manifestations. Read More