The exact effects of alcohol drinking on cardiac function are not clear.
 
  The determine the relationship between consumed amount of alcohol, myocardial injury, and prognosis.
 
  Myocardial function and cardiac outcomes were examined in subjects with chronic alcoholism by classical and strain echocardiographic parameters, including global (GLS) and layer-specific longitudinal strain of the endocardial (GLSendo) and epicardial (GLSepi) layer. One group of 65 alcohol-overusers (ALC), median (IQR) age 44(38-51) years, was compared with 30 controls (CG).
 
  Median (IQR) alcohol dose (in alcohol units, 1AU = 10 gram of ethanol) per week was 30 (12-51) AU in ALC and 0 in CG, P <0.001, and the mean (SD) drinking period was 16 (9) years. ALC patients demonstrated higher left ventricular (LV) mass and impaired diastolic function. The ALC group demonstrated lower median (IQR) LV ejection fraction (EF) 52 (37-57)% vs. 60 (55-63)% (P <0.001); GLS 17 (9-20)% vs. 19 (18-21)% (P = 0.01); absolute layer-specific strain values. GLSendo <19% and GLSepi <15% predicted worsened mid-term prognosis, as did elevated N - terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and lower EF and GLS.
 
  Long-term alcohol overuse, even with a rather low reported median (IQR) dose of 4 (2-7) AU per day resulted in LV hypertrophy, diastolic and systolic dysfunction. Diminished GLS <18%, endocardial <19% and epicardial <15% layer strain predicted combined endpoints but did not significantly improve the prognostic power of tested models, based on NT-proBNP and EF in follow-up.
 Long-term alcohol overuse, even with a rather low reported median (IQR) dose of 4 (2-7) AU per day resulted in LV hypertrophy, diastolic and systolic dysfunction. Diminished GLS less then 18%, endocardial less then 19% and epicardial less then 15% layer strain predicted combined endpoints but did not significantly improve the prognostic power of tested models, based on NT-proBNP and EF in follow-up.
  Pregnant women with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and their offspring are at increased morbidity and mortality.
 
  To provide data on pregnancy outcomes among women with different typesof CVD requiring non-elective cardiac hospitalization in atertiary referral cardiac center.
 
  We identified all records of non-elective hospitalizations of pregnant women hospitalized between January 2009 through March 2018, at our institution-a tertiary referral cardiaccentre. The incidence and type of cardiac complications during pregnancy as well as the pregnancy and offspring outcomeswere determined.
 
  161 out of 328 pregnancy-related hospitalizations in140 pregnancies were non-elective. Cardiac complications occurred in 62 (44%) of pregnancies, with the most frequent being episodesof arrhythmia (22.1% pregnancies), followed by heart failure exacerbations(6.4% pregnancies). Maternal mortality reached 2.1% and affected only women with primary cardiomyopathies (CMP). Offspring mortality was 2.8%. Newborns of mothers with cardiac complications had significantly lower Apgar scoresand gestational age at delivery,compared to mothers without cardiac complications.
 
  In our series mortality and morbidity among pregnant women with CVD hospitalizations werehigh. An unfavorable maternal outcome mainly affected women with CMP. Offspringof mothers with cardiovascular complications are prone to have a lowergestational age and Apgar score.
 In our series mortality and morbidity among pregnant women with CVD hospitalizations werehigh. An unfavorable maternal outcome mainly affected women with CMP. Offspringof mothers with cardiovascular complications are prone to have a lowergestational age and Apgar score.
  Use of anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications (AAMs) is increasing significantly with our growing population of older adults. AAMs worsen outcomes in trauma patients. Our goal was to improve collaboration between trauma and outpatient providers and to improve safety in making decisions on anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications(AAMs) after injuries.
 
  A risk management initiative.
 
  Patients that suffered traumatic injury while on anticoagulation or antiplatelets medications at a level I university trauma center.
 
  IRB approval was obtained to review records for medications, demographics, mechanism and type of injury, and indication for preinjury AAM use. Inpatient trauma team providers contacted the primary prescriber. A collaborative decision was made regarding AAM plans.
 
  One hundred and five patients, mean age 79 years, were followed.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/Temsirolimus.html  The three most common AAMs were warfarin (69 patients), clopidogrel (24), and Factor Xa inhibitors (16). Atrial fibrillation was the most common indication for AAMinjuries.
 This is the first description of mandatory communication between trauma and outpatient providers to guide decision making on AAMs after injury. Efforts should be made to determine if this mitigates risk by following patients longterm. This communication should become standard for a population that is often elderly, frail, and at risk of repeat injuries.Inferior vena cava filters (IVCF) are associated with many long-term complications. Often, these complications manifest as acute events, such as shock. However, we report a case of a patient who presented with chronic hypotension and dizziness due to a thrombosed IVCF filter.Whipple's disease is a rare infectious disease caused by the bacterium Tropheryma whipplei. The prevalence of Whipple's disease is 3/1,000,000 in Western populations. It most often causes a malabsorption disorder with weight loss and diarrhea as common presenting symptoms. In one-third of patients, however, there are no gastrointestinal symptoms at presentation; patients instead report a wide variety of non-specific extraintestinal complaints, potentially involving every organ system. We report a case of a 37-year-old man who presented with a 3-month history of non-bloody diarrhea and 15-pound weight loss. He was ultimately diagnosed with biopsy-confirmed Whipple's disease. Despite its rarity, Whipple's disease remains an important clinical entity and should be included on the differential diagnosis for selected patients presenting with an array of non-specific symptoms.