Beneficial effects of Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standley fruit epicarp in animal models.

Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standley fruit (bottle gourd), a commonly used vegetable in India is described as cardiotonic and as a general tonic in Ayurveda. Keeping in view the presence of free radical scavenging activity in L. siceraria and involvement of free radicals in the development of various disorders, present studies were designed to evaluate the ethanolic extract of L. siceraria fruit against the disorders where free radicals play a major role in pathogenesis. The extract was found effective as hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, immunomodulatory, antihyperlipidemic and cardiotonic agent. The results showed that the radical scavenging capacity of L. siceraria fruit may be responsible for various biological activities studied.

Emergent balloon mitral valvotomy in patients presenting with cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock or refractory pulmonary edema.

OBJECTIVES: The present study was performed to determine the outcome of emergent balloon mitral valvotomy (BMV) in patients with cardiac arrest, pulmonary edema or cardiogenic shock. BACKGROUND: In India, many patients with mitral stenosis present in critical condition. They have high mortality despite surgical relief. The role of BMV in such patients is ill-defined. METHODS: Of 558 patients undergoing BMV between January 1993 and December 1994, 40 presented with cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest or pulmonary edema refractory to medical treatment and underwent emergent BMV (group I). Elective BMV was performed in the remaining 518 patients (group II). RESULTS: Age ([mean +/- SD] 40 +/- 13 vs. 31 +/- 9 years, p < 0.05), incidence of atrial fibrillation (35% vs. 11%, p < 0.05), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PAsP) (64 +/- 14 vs. 51 +/- 12 mm Hg, p < 0.001) and mitral valve (MV) score (7.4 +/- 1.2 vs. 6.4 +/- 1, p < 0.001) were higher and MV area lower (0.74 +/- 0.17 vs. 0.86 +/- 0.14 cm2, p < 0.001) in group I patients. After emergent BMV in group I, mitral regurgitation occurred in 15%, and the mortality rate was 35%. Stepwise logistic regression analysis identified MV score > or =8 (p = 0.008), PAsP > or =65 mm Hg (p = 0.023) and cardiac output < or =3.151 liters/min (p = 0.001) as significant predictors of a fatal outcome. Follow-up of 1 to 16 months (median 8) was available in 20 of 26 survivors in group I, of whom 15 were asymptomatic. The gain in MV area and the decrease in transmitral gradient and PAsP obtained immediately after BMV persisted during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Emergent BMV is feasible in critically ill patients. In-hospital survivors have excellent clinical and hemodynamic status at intermediate follow-up.

Cardiac valve prostheses at autopsy: an analysis of 337 cases with clinicopathologic correlation.

We evaluated the pathologic findings at autopsy in 337 patients who had undergone cardiac valve replacement over 10 years (1982 to 1991). Rheumatic heart disease was the most common indication for valve replacement (84% of cases). Among the 255 patients with short-term survival (<1 month), in 162 cases (63.5%), the cause of death was related to surgery and/or underlying cardiovascular conditions. Host-prosthetic valve interactions contributed to mortality in 14.9% cases. However, in longtime survivors (82 patients), a significant number (86.5%) showed evidence of prosthesis-related complications, such as infective endocarditis, thrombosis, anticoagulant-related hemorrhage, and bioprosthetic valve degeneration.

Pathology of the diffuse variant of supravalvar aortic stenosis.

Supravalvar aortic stenosis is a rare congenital heart anomaly, producing left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Of the two anatomic variants that have been described, diffuse type is the rarest. We report five such cases in children between two months and nine years of age. None had features of Williams syndrome. The entire aorta was involved in three cases, with abdominal aortic coarctation in two cases. Stenosis was mainly due to involvement of the media, which showed smooth muscle hypertrophy, abnormal elastic fibers, and mild collagenization. Predominant intimal change was seen in one case. Pulmonary, coronary, arch, renal, and common iliac arteries were also involved.

Pulmonary arterial aneurysms.

Over a period of 12 years, two cases of pulmonary arterial aneurysms were encountered in our autopsy data of 13 cases of congenital heart defects with right-sided infective endocarditis. Pulmonary arterial aneurysms are rare lesions and may be categorized as central or peripheral. Although early reports implicated tuberculosis as a major aetiologic factor, pulmonary arterial aneurysms are generally associated with congenital heart disease.

Atresia of the common pulmonary vein.

In our study of 1326 autopsied cases of congenital heart disease, we have encountered 3 cases of atresia of the common pulmonary vein. This is a rare condition of which, to the best part of our knowledge, only 19 cases have been reported so far. Interestingly, two of our cases were associated with isomerism of the right atrial appendages, and one also had a common arterial trunk. The association with isomerism of the right appendages, and with absence of the spleen, has been observed previously but no previous case of which we are aware has had a common arterial trunk. Atresia of the common pulmonary vein is part of the spectrum related to totally anomalous pulmonary venous connexion, a lesion known to be frequently associated with isomerism of the right atrial appendages. Atresia of the common pulmonary vein, however, has not commonly been found with isomerism of the right appendages.

Aortic dissections: a pathologic study of 35 autopsied cases.

A study of 35 autopsied cases of aortic dissection collected over a period of 12 years was carried out. There were 25 males and 10 females, and the majority of the dissections presented in fourth to fifth decade of life. Thirty-six dissections were present in 35 cases. Type III was the commonest (50.0%), followed by Type I (41.7%) and Type II (8.3%) dissections. Rupture following acute dissection was the cause of death in 15 patients. In chronic types, the causes of death were not related to dissection. Hypertension, connective tissue disorders and trauma were identified as some of the risk factors.

Is haemorrhagic myocardial infarction more common with streptokinase?

Autopsy reports and clinical data of 226 consecutive myocardial infarction deaths in whom postmortem studies could be carried out during the period 1980 to 1996 were analyzed retrospectively for the presence of haemorrhagic myocardial infarction (HMI). Of 53 autopsies done from 1980 to 1986 [prior to use of streptokinase (SK) therapy in our institution] none of the specimens showed haemorrhagic infarction. Of 173 autopsies done from 1987 to 1996 (intravenous SK therapy was utilised in this period), 20 specimens showed haemorrhagic infarctions. Sixteen of these 20 patients had received SK, while 66 of the remaining 153 non-haemorrhagic myocardial infarction patients received SK (statistically significant association of SK with HMI, p < 0.005). Acute mechanical complications [ventricular septal rupture (n = 10), papillary muscle rupture (n = 2), cardiac free wall rupture (n = 7)] were seen in 19 cases. Of these, 16 were HMIs and 14 of these patients had received streptokinase. These observations suggest a strong association of HMI with SK therapy and with acute mechanical complications.

Primary malignant carcinoid of the esophagus.

Primary malignant esophageal carcinoid in a 55-year-old man with lung abscess is reported. The tumor was detected incidentally at autopsy and had metastasized to the posterior mediastinal lymph nodes.

A rare cause of steatohepatitis.

We present a rare case of steatohepatitis due to neutral lipid storage disorder in a 1.5-year-old male presenting with intermittent fever, hepatomegaly and dark-coloured urine. On examination, there was ichthyosis involving both the limbs. Liver biopsy showed steatohepatitis. The peripheral blood smear revealed fat vacuoles in the cytoplasm of leucocytes, characteristic of the Dorfman-Chanarin syndrome. Awareness of this condition helps in prompt diagnosis and avoids unnecessary further investigations.

Pulmonary carcinomatous arteriopathy--a rare cause of dyspnoea and pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary carcinomatous arteriopathy was seen at autopsy in three patients who presented with sub-acute cor pulmonale. All had adenocarcinomas of unknown origin. The arteries and arterioles showed fresh and organizing thrombi with narrowing or occlusion. Large muscular arteries also showed tumour cells within the thrombi. Lymphangitis carcinomatosis was also present to a variable extent.

Isolated right ventricular infarction.

Rare occurrence of isolated right ventricular infarction is reported in four patients, three of whom were elderly. The causes of infarction were due to pulmonary thromboembolism and dissection of non-dominant right coronary artery. None of the hearts had right ventricular hypertrophy and significant coronary atherosclerosis.

Intrapericardial teratoma--a report of two cases.

Two rare cases of intra-pericardial teratoma in infants are reported. The presenting symptoms were either due to pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade or due to compression of the tracheo-bronchial tree. The tumors were well encapsulated and were attached to the ascending aorta. Histologically, they were composed of derivatives of the three germ cell layers.

Neonatal candidial endocarditis--a rare manifestation of systemic candidiasis.

Infective candidial endocarditis in four premature neonates is reported. These occurred as a complication of systemic candidiasis. Vegetations were present on the right side of the heart in two cases and both sides in the other two. Diagnosis requires a high degree of clinical suspicion. Mortality rate is high despite appropriate therapy.

Cardiac pathology of permanent pacemaker implementation.

The cardiac findings in five cases of permanent pacemaker implantation seen at autopsy in a three-year period is reported. Implantation was done for complete heart block in four patients and sick sinus syndrome in one. The periods of implantation ranged from seven days to four years. The common findings were right sided valvar and mural bland thrombus formation. Additional findings included superior vena caval thrombosis, endocardial 'tunnel' formation for the pacing wires, perforation of the tricuspid leaflet and a gross morphology similar to that seen in right sided endomyocardial fibrosis.