Functional chest pain

Objective: To summarize the clinical manifestations, experiences in diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) in children. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, radiological features, treatment and follow-up results was conducted in 11 children diagnosed with ACM at the center of congenital heart disease, Beijing anzhen hospital from May 2010 to March 2022. Results: A total of 11 patients aged 2 to 16 years, including 5 males and 6 females were diagnosed with ACM...

In recent years, new translational evidence, diagnostic techniques, and innovative therapies have shed new light on esophageal achalasia and revamped the attention on this relatively rare motility disorder. This narrative review aims to highlight the most recent progress and the areas where further research is needed. The four senior authors identified five topics commonly discussed in achalasia management: i.e. pathogenesis, role of functional lumen imaging probe in the diagnostic flow chart of achalasia, how to define the outcome of achalasia treatments, how to manage persistent chest pain after the treatment, and if achalasia patients' may benefit from a regular follow-up...

Wilson-Mikity syndrome (WMS) is a rare condition characterized by various respiratory and pulmonary abnormalities in neonates and infants. However, the diagnosis is based on the findings of physiological tests, such as respiratory function tests. Reports describing the histopathological features of WMS are limited. The patient was a 22-year-old woman with a history of WMS. She had been on a ventilator for the first three months of life due to pulmonary hypertension after early delivery at 24 weeks of gestation and required oxygen therapy until three years of age...

OBJECTIVE: Systemic arterial hypertension is the most important modificable risk factor for morbidity and mortality and a Public Health problem. The objective was to estímate ítems of worse quality of life (Qol) in both domains of the MINICHAL questionarie and the associated variables. METHODS: An observational study of prevalence in men was carried out. Sociodemographic, comorbidity, clinical, examination, control and serum parameters variables were collected...

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is the primary therapeutic option for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP). Gastrointestinal symptoms and cutaneous rash are common side effects, with hyperkalemia being uncommon in patients without kidney dysfunction, and myelotoxicity being even rarer. We present the case of a male patient with hypertension and a recent diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, undergoing rituximab treatment for two months. He was admitted to the intensive care unit due to dyspnea, tachypnea, and pleuritic pain, requiring mechanical ventilation...

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction and non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) affects 1 in 9 patients with acute coronary syndrome and has no evidence-based therapy. NT-proBNP is an established biomarker associated with prognosis in heart failure and ischemic heart disease, although there is a paucity of data in patients with MINOCA. METHODS: Prospective study of the diagnostic and clinical utility of measuring NT-proBNP in patients with MINOCA without left ventricular dysfunction or heart failure...

BACKGROUND: Global longitudinal strain (GLS) imaging is a multifaceted modality that has been utilized in various fields of clinical cardiology in the recent past; however, its implementation for the assessment of ischemia has been limited. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to document the functional changes in GLS secondary to acute myocardial ischemia in patients with chronic chest pain. METHODS: In this unblinded, single-center, investigator-initiated, prospective pilot study, the functional changes in GLS at baseline, during, and immediately following coronary percutaneous intervention were monitored in 10 ambulatory patients who underwent elective catheterization...

Pemphigus vulgaris, a rare and life-threatening autoimmune disorder, presents with painful skin and mucosal lesions, leading to blistering sores attributed to acantholysis. This study delves into the clinical manifestations, risk factors, and diagnostic intricacies associated with pemphigus vulgaris, with a focus on a representative case highlighting the challenges in its recognition and management. We explore the case of a 60-year-old male with pemphigus vulgaris, whose initial presentation involved yellow-crusting lesions on the scalp progressing to non-pruritic lesions on the chest, neck, and inguinal areas...

Pulmonary sequestration and cystic pulmonary adenomatoid malformation are rare congenital cystic disorders of the lungs. The presence of both the diseases in the same individual is therefore very uncommon. Pulmonary sequestration is a nonfunctional pulmonary tissue mass that derives its blood supply from systemic blood supply other than pulmonary circulation. Congenital cystic pulmonary adenomatoid malformation represents a mass consisting of abnormal bronchiolar air spaces and a deficiency of functional alveoli...

BACKGROUND Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (SHML), Rosai-Dorfman disease, or Rosai-Dorfman-Destombes disease (RDD), is a rare non-Langerhans cell of unknown etiology. This report is of a case of isolated SHML, or Rosai-Dorfman disease, presenting as a right atrial mass with involvement of the tricuspid valve in a 54-year-old woman. This case shows the challenges of diagnosing this condition in the heart and the challenges of treating this rare disease with the limited information on the efficacy of the treatment modalities...

Aortic dissection (AD) is a life-threatening medical emergency with a high mortality rate if misdiagnosed; therefore, an urgent and precise diagnosis is crucial for prompt treatment. This article presents a rare case report of AD with an atypical clinical presentation that led to delayed diagnosis and a complicated clinical course. Herein, we aim to contribute to the existing literature by providing insights into the varied presentations of AD and offering valuable lessons for clinicians faced with similar diagnostic scenarios...

Intermittent left bundle branch block (LBBB) is an unusual phenomenon, with very few cases documented in the literature. It is often considered a reflection of underlying conditions known to increase the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and death, including coronary artery disease (CAD), cardiomyopathy, hypertensive heart disease, and aortic valve disease. In rare instances, coronary vasospasm is the sole underlying condition. It is typically diagnosed by ECG and managed according to the underlying cause. We describe a case of intermittent LBBB presenting with chest pain...

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory disorder, characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and polyserositis, and usually presents during the first two decades of life. Acute pericarditis is a rare manifestation of FMF and typically presents with other symptoms of the inflammatory disorder. A 27-year-old Arabian male presented to our hospital with pleuritic chest pain and shortness of breath while lying flat. His electrocardiogram showed changes suggestive of pericarditis, and his inflammatory markers and troponin were raised...

Myocardial calcification in myocarditis is rare and may be linked to poor outcomes. We herein report a case of fulminant myocarditis with massive myocardial calcification and its pathological outcomes at autopsy. A 49-year-old man experienced chest pain and was diagnosed with acute myocarditis. His cardiac function did not recover despite mechanical circulatory support in combination with V-A extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and IMPELLA CP® . He eventually developed sepsis and gastrointestinal bleeding and died on day 27...

BACKGROUND: Scedosporium apiospermum (S. apiospermum) belongs to the asexual form of Pseudallescheria boydii and is widely distributed in various environments. S. apiospermum is the most common cause of pulmonary infection; however, invasive diseases are usually limited to patients with immunodeficiency. CASE PRESENTATION: A 54-year-old Chinese non-smoker female patient with normal lung structure and function was diagnosed with pulmonary S. apiospermum infection by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)...

BACKGROUND: Spinal aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are rare, histologically benign tumors with aggressive behavior, which may cause bone and soft-tissue destruction, particularly affecting neural elements. Management of these tumors, including treatment modalities and follow-up protocols, remains challenging. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 7-year-old boy presented with chest wall pain persisting for two months before admission, accompanied by progressive mono paresis lasting ten days before admission...

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the limitations and risks associated with the overreliance on opioids in various surgical procedures, including cardiothoracic surgery.This shift on pain management toward reducing reliance on opioids, together with need to improve patient outcomes, alleviate suffering, gain early mobilization after surgery, reduce hospital stay, and improve patient satisfaction and functional recovery, has led to the development and widespread implementation of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols...

Exposure to phosgene, a colourless poisonous gas, can lead to various health issues including eye irritation, a dry and burning throat, vomiting, coughing, the production of foamy sputum, difficulty in breathing, and chest pain. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the clinical manifestations and treatment of phosgene toxicity by systematically analyzing available literature. The search was carried out on various scientific online databases to include related studies based on inclusion and exclusion criteria with the use of PRISMA guidelines...

BACKGROUND: Symptoms of depersonalization (DP) and derealization (DR) are a risk factor for more severe impairment, non-response to various treatments, and a chronic course. In this study, we investigated the effects of DP/DR symptoms in patients with clinically significant depressive symptoms on clinical characteristics and various outcomes in a representative population-based sample with a 5-year follow-up. METHODS: The middle-aged sample comprised n = 10,422 persons at baseline, of whom n = 9,301 were free from depressive and DP/DR symptoms...

<sec id="st1"><title>BACKGROUND</title>Post-TB lung disease (PTLD) can be categorised based on physiological, radiological, and clinical abnormalities, delineating distinct clinical patterns; however, thus far the importance of this is unknown. People with PTLD have a high morbidity and increased mortality, but predictors of long-term outcomes are poorly understood.</sec><sec id="st2"><title>METHODS</title>We conducted an observational study of PTLD patients attending a tertiary hospital in South Africa between 1 October 2021 and 30 September 2022...