Oral glucose loading causes an acute, transient decrease of FMD in healthy subjects without diabetes, which is prevented by vitamins C and E.

Folic acid supplementation significantly improved endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary atherosclerosis. Further clinical trials are required to determine whether folic acid supplementation may reduce cardiovascular events.

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Fatal Lyme carditis caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi rarely is identified. Here, we describe the pathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular findings of five case patients. These sudden cardiac deaths associated with Lyme carditis occurred from late summer to fall, ages ranged from young adult to late 40s, and four patients were men. Autopsy tissue samples were evaluated by light microscopy, Warthin-Starry stain, immunohistochemistry, and PCR for B. burgdorferi, and immunohistochemistry for complement components C4d and C9, CD3, CD79a, and decorin. Post-mortem blood was tested by serology. Interstitial lymphocytic pancarditis in a relatively characteristic road map distribution was present in all cases. Cardiomyocyte necrosis was minimal, T cells outnumbered B cells, plasma cells were prominent, and mild fibrosis was present. Spirochetes in the cardiac interstitium associated with collagen fibers and co-localized with decorin. Rare spirochetes were seen in the leptomeninges of two cases by immunohistochemistry. Spirochetes were not seen in other organs examined, and joint tissue was not available for evaluation. Although rare, sudden cardiac death caused by Lyme disease might be an under-recognized entity and is characterized by pancarditis and marked tropism of spirochetes for cardiac tissues.

This atlas describes the histologic changes relevant to the modern practice of forensic pathology. It guides the reader through the common questions that the forensic pathologist will need to answer in relation to the cause of death, such as: is this feature artifact or is this real? What does this signify? How old is this injury? The book focuses on key issues of forensic importance - e.g. sudden death, environmental deaths, injury timing and suspected child abuse. The book is highly illustrated with color photographs to increase the understanding of changes related to disease, decomposition and artifact. All illustrations are also available on a CD-ROM packaged with the print book. Ideal as a source of quick reference next to the microscope, this is essential reading for forensic pathologists, forensic pathology fellows, pathologists who consult in forensic cases, pathology residents, autopsy pathologists, coroners and forensic investigators.