Cardiac hemangiomas are rare cardiac tumors with fewer than 50 surgically treated cases reported in the literature. Incidence of valvular hemangiomas is extremely low, as cardiac valves are predominantly avascular structures. In this case report, we describe a 33-year-old woman who presented with progressively worsening cardiovascular symptoms. Echocardiography revealed a mitral valve mass for which she underwent surgical resection and mitral valve replacement. Histological examination of the mass revealed cavernous hemangioma of the mitral valve. Postoperative course was uncomplicated, and the patient's symptoms improved after surgery. Surgical excision of valvular hemangiomas appears to be curative in most cases and is the treatment of choice. Periodic echocardiographic follow-up is advised for early detection of tumor recurrence.
Use of iodinated contrast media (ICM) for angiography can result in contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). Gadolinium-based contrast media (GCM) have been used in angiography with a goal to reduce the incidence of CIN. We performed a retrospective analysis involving 85 patients with renal insufficiency who underwent 97 carotid artery angiography and stenting (CAAS) procedures with a combination of GCM and ICM. The incidence of peri-procedural death, Q wave myocardial infarction (QWMI), stroke and CIN were recorded. Patients in GCM group had worse preprocedure renal function compared to ICM group. There were no peri-procedural deaths or QWMI in both groups. The incidence of stroke was 2.2% in GCM group and 0% in ICM group. The incidence of CIN were similar in GCM and ICM groups (8.5% vs. 10%, respectively, p NS). However, the predicted risk of CIN was 18.5% for GCM group and 10.4% for ICM group. Use of GCM and ICM combination for CAAS resulted in a 50% reduction in the incidence of predicted CIN risk compared to ICM.
HC1 is an AQP1‐like water channel protein expressed by the treefrog Hyla chrysoscelis. Expression of HC1 mRNA is widespread among tissues. We used immunohistochemistry to localize HC1 protein within those tissues, and to explore variation in that expression in control (hydrated, 23C), dehydrated (20% loss of standard body mass over one week at 23C), and frozen (−2.5C for 24 hr) animals. Tissue sections were exposed to anti‐HC1 antibody and stained with Texas Red or Cy2 conjugated secondary antibody. In kidney, HC1 was detected in the parietal layer of the glomerulus and in overlying connective tissue. HC1 was expressed in glandular membrane in stratum spinosum of skin, in septa, sinusoids, and acini of liver, and in the gastrointestinal tract in gastric pits and in the lumen of crypts of small and large intestine. We also detected expression in the pulmonary epithelia and in blood vessels of several organs, including skeletal muscle and intestines. Our findings are largely consistent with the role of HC1 as a widely expressed “housekeeper” aquaporin. However, we also have preliminary evidence for some physiological regulation of expression, including down‐regulation in frozen liver and enhanced expression in skin from frozen and dehydrated animals. Research supported by NSF IOB‐0517301.
Gray tree frogs, Hyla chrysoscelis, are potentially subject to dehydrational challenges from evaporative water loss and from freezing. In anticipation of the latter, this species accumulates glycerol during cold acclimation. We hypothesized that expression of the AQP HC3, a protein from the glyceroporin family that transports both water and glycerol, is up‐ regulated in response to cold and dehydration. We used immunohistochemistry to compare the expression levels of aquaporin HC3 in liver, kidney and skin of control (hydrated, 23º C), cold (hydrated, 4º C) and dehydrated (loss of 20% of standard body mass over one week at 23º C) gray tree frogs. During dehydration, expression of HC3 was markedly increased in liver, kidney and skin compared with control tissues. In contrast, HC3 expression was diminished in kidney and skin from cold animals, but was highly expressed in cold liver compared with warm and dehydrated conditions. The up‐regulation in HC3 protein expression in cold liver may reflect the role of this organ in synthesis and release of glycerol, whereas up‐regulation in kidney and skin during dehydration may reflect a regulated role of the aquaporin in water conservation. Research supported by NSF IOB‐0517301.
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