International journal of cardiology
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Letter Case Reports
Acute myocarditis after urinary tract infection by Escherichia coli.
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Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is characterized by the sudden death of an infant that occurs during sleep and remains unexplained despite thorough examination. In addition to clinical associations such as prone sleeping and exposure to cigarette smoke, several genetic factors have been identified with regard to SIDS, including autonomic disorders, immunologic polymorphisms and metabolic disorders. In the past decade, postmortem genetic analysis ('molecular autopsy') of SIDS cases has revealed a number of cardiac ion channel mutations that are associated with arrhythmia syndromes, including the long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome and short QT syndrome. ⋯ Combining data from population-based cohort studies, we conclude that at least one out of five SIDS victims carries a mutation in a cardiac ion channel-related gene and that the majority of these mutations are of a known malignant phenotype. Genetic analysis is therefore recommended in cases of sudden infant death. More research is required to further elucidate the pathophysiology of SIDS and to determine whether genetic or electrocardiographic screening of apparently healthy infants should be pursued.
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We tested the hypothesis that diastolic ventricular interaction occurs after atrial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and that subpulmonary LV diastolic function is influenced by septal geometry. ⋯ Systemic RV diastolic dysfunction occurs after atrial switch operation and correlates with subpulmonary LV diastolic dysfunction. The observed diastolic ventricular interaction may potentially be mediated through alteration of septal geometry.