Saint Francis University

About: Saint Francis University is a education organization based out in Loretto, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Osteoblast. The organization has 1694 authors who have published 2038 publications receiving 87149 citations.

Double-chambered left ventricle: a diagnosis made by multimodality imaging.

Abstract: A 30-year-old woman presented at 13 weeks gestation with palpitations. Exam, laboratories, electrocardiogram and Holter were normal. Echocardiogram (Fig. 1a, Video 1) showed double-chambered left ventricle (LV). Color and pulse-wave Doppler showed normal flow pattern at the mouth of the diverticulum without flow acceleration (systolic velocity 68 cm/s, diastolic velocity 55 cm/s). Blood entered the diverticulum in diastole and was ejected out of it in systole, just as occurs in the normal LV (Fig. 1b, c). Cardiac MRI (CMR) showed a large diverticulum in the mid-inferolateral LV (52 mm × 18 mm × 25 mm). There was no thrombus. Biventricular size, systolic function, wall motion, pericardium and valves were all normal (Fig. 1 e, f, Video 2). There was no evidence of noncompaction. Gadolinium contrast could not used due to pregnancy. To differentiate between fibrous versus muscular diverticulum, feature-tracking strain was done (Fig. 1g, Video 3). Systolic strain values were normal indicating that the diverticulum was composed of contractile, healthy myocardium. Fetal echocardiogram showed no abnormalities. She delivered a healthy baby vaginally at term and has had no further symptoms for over 1 year now. Left ventricular diverticula are rare with a prevalence of 0.04% in adult patients [1]. Given that many patients are asymptomatic, the true prevalence may be higher. Doublechambered ventricle is more often seen in the right ventricle rather than the left, and is usually associated with other congenital defects such as septal defects, transposition of the great arteries, or tetralogy of Fallot [2]. However, doublechambered LV is usually an isolated defect and is benign as in our patient. Only rarely do complications occur such as thrombus formation and embolic phenomena, infective endocarditis, arrhythmias, rupture, herniation through the pericardium, and sudden cardiac death [1, 3]. These are more common in fibrous as opposed to muscular diverticula. In our patient, CMR was useful to rule any other associated abnormalities and strain was very helpful in characterizing the myocardium as normal. This allowed us to rule out an aneurysm or pseudoaneurysm, or fibrous tissue, all of which will have abnormal strain values. Thus, multimodality imaging can assist in making the proper diagnosis, ruling out other associated anomalies and in differentiating it from aneurysm or other masses [4, 5]. While cardiac CT has excellent spatial resolution to visualize these abnormalities, it is relatively contraindicated in pregnancy due to ionizing radiation and is not able to evaluate hemodynamics unlike echocardiography or CMR. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https ://doi.org/10.1007/s1257 4-019-00429 -w) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Glenn T. Seaborg; discoveries; and the capital of knowledge

Abstract: Ten years from Glenn T. Seaborg’s death we remember his achievements; his teaching about the importance of basic research is as timely as ever.

Advances in communication networks for pervasive and ubiquitous applications

Abstract: Advanced IT for Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing (PUC) has presented a dramatic growth in merging the boundaries between physical space and cyberspace. In addition, PUC has rapidly emerged as an exciting new paradigm that tends to include different active research fields. This special issue called for high quality, up-to-date technology related ubiquitous and pervasive applications and state-of-the-art research issues. In particular, original and research articles are solicited in all aspects of including theoretical studies, practical applications, new communication technology, and software/system that address the challenges in various applications such as healthcare, industry automation, environment monitoring, military, and security. Finally, we have accepted only 14 manuscripts with high quality for this special issue. Furthermore, we expect that this special issue will be a trigger for further related research and technology improvements in this important subject.

Acute fulminant form of Budd-Chiari syndrome secondary to inferior vena cava sarcoma: a case report and review of the literature.

Abstract: Budd–Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a rare syndrome, which results from partial or complete obstruction of hepatic venous outflow at the level of hepatic venules, major hepatic veins, or the intrahepatic portion of the inferior vena cava (IVC) up to its junction with the right atrium [1–7]. This definition does not include sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (previously known as veno-occlusive disease, which affects central or sublobular hepatic veins), right-sided heart failure, or pericardial disease which may closely mimic BCS [1–6]. Budd–Chiari syndrome occurs more often in young and middle-aged women in their mid-30s [1, 5, 6, 8]. Abdominal pain, ascites, hepatomegaly, and jaundice are the most common symptoms [2, 4–7]. BCS may present as a chronic (42– 65 %); subacute or acute (28–41 %); or less commonly, fulminant form (7–8 %); or asymptomatic (3–6 %), depending on the extent and rapidity of hepatic venous outflow obstruction and the development of collaterals [2, 4, 5, 7]. The main etiology of this disease is the various prothrombotic disorders including primary myeloproliferative disorders, especially polycythemia vera (overt or occult); deficiencies or gene mutations in one or more coagulation factors; antiphospholipid antibody syndrome; and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria [1, 2, 5–9]. Other etiologies include abdominal trauma, abdominal surgery, liver infections such as an abscess; inflammatory bowel disease; sarcoidosis; malignancy, especially hepatocellular and renal cell carcinomas; or vasculitis, especially Behcet’s disease [2–8]. In addition, pregnancy, peripartum period, and oral contraceptive use have been frequently identified as precipitating factors [1, 3–5, 8, 9]. Although coexistence of more than one thrombogenic risk factor is found in many patients with BCS, idiopathic BCS still accounts for 10–20 % [1–3, 5, 8–10]. Any lesions in the inferior vena cava such as membranous webs (more often in Asia and South Africa), thrombosis, stenosis, and extrinsic or intrinsic compression may cause BCS [2, 4–7]. Sarcomas in the IVC have been reported as a cause of Budd–Chiari syndrome. The reported cases of Budd–Chiari syndrome secondary to IVC sarcomas were in chronic, subacute, or acute forms; but no case of fulminant form has been recorded in the literature. We are presenting in this paper a case of an elderly man who presented with acute fulminant liver failure and died within 4 days of hospitalization and was found to have an IVC sarcoma with extensive thrombosis on autopsy. We then review the literature.