Cholesterol crystal embolism leading to perforation of the gallbladder

BACKGROUND: Cholesterol crystal embolism (CCE) from atherosclerotic arterial disease leading to perforation of the gallbladder is rare. We describe our experience of managing a patient with perforation of gallbladder caused by CCE. METHODS: A 64-year-old man was admitted to this hospital because of acute abdominal pain with clinical features suggestive of peritonitis. He was known to suffer from atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease and had undergone aortobifemoral bypass 17 years ago. A CT scan showed a collection of peri-hepatic fluid. The gallbladder was normal in appearance but contained multiple calculi. At laparotomy, free bile was observed in the peritoneal cavity, leaking from a pin-hole size peroration of the fundus of the gallbladder. Hence cholecystectomy was performed. RESULTS: The patient made an uneventful recovery. Histological study of the gallbladder showed chronic cholecystitis and obliteration of the lumen of the mural arteries with cholesterol crystals within, indicating CCE. CONCLUSIONS: Although perforation of the gallbladder following CCE of its mural arteries is rare, the diagnosis should be considered in patients with abdominal pain and known atherosclerotic arterial disease. Management should include an early recognition of this condition, prompt institution of treatment, prevention of further insults by discontinuing or avoiding predisposing factors, and modification of cardiovascular risk factors.

Idiopathic cholesterol crystal embolism with atheroembolic renal disease and blue toes syndrome:A case report

BACKGROUND Cholesterol crystal embolization(CCE)is a multisystemic and fatal disease with multiple clinical manifestations;however,there are few cases of idiopathic CCE.Here we report a patient with idiopathic CCE accompanied by atheroembolic renal disease and blue toes who had a relatively good prognosis in the short-term due to early treatment with corticosteroids and statins.CASE SUMMARY A 76-year-old man complained of coldness,numbness and purple color change in his left foot for 7 d.He had a feeling of fatigue,constipation,foamy urine,poor appetite and sleep.He had a lacunar infarction for 5 years and hypertension for 9 mo.Laboratory results showed elevated eosinophils,cholesterol,uric acid,serum creatinine,urea and 24 h urine analysis revealed proteinuria.A renal biopsy revealed atheroembolic renal disease.Taken together,these findings strongly supported the diagnosis of idiopathic CCE and atheroembolic renal disease.CONCLUSION Atheroembolic renal disease and blue toes syndrome can be caused by idiopathic CCE,and early treatment with corticosteroids is effective but requires further investigation.

Treatment with β-sitosterol ameliorates the effects of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by suppressing cholesterol overload, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis

β-Sitosterol is a type of phytosterol that occurs naturally in plants.Previous studies have shown that it has anti-oxidant,anti-hyperlipidemic,anti-inflammatory,immunomodulatory,and anti-tumor effects,but it is unknown whetherβ-sitosterol treatment reduces the effects of ischemic stroke.Here we found that,in a mouse model of ischemic stroke induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion,β-sitosterol reduced the volume of cerebral infarction and brain edema,reduced neuronal apoptosis in brain tissue,and alleviated neurological dysfunction;moreover,β-sitosterol increased the activity of oxygen-and glucose-deprived cerebral cortex neurons and reduced apoptosis.Further investigation showed that the neuroprotective effects ofβ-sitosterol may be related to inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress caused by intracellular cholesterol accumulation after ischemic stroke.In addition,β-sitosterol showed high affinity for NPC1L1,a key transporter of cholesterol,and antagonized its activity.In conclusion,β-sitosterol may help treat ischemic stroke by inhibiting neuronal intracellular cholesterol overload/endoplasmic reticulum stress/apoptosis signaling pathways.

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome complicated with pulmonary embolism:A case report

BACKGROUND Cronkhite-Canada syndrome(CCS)is a rare disease,that causes gastrointestinal polyps,ectodermal abnormalities,and gastrointestinal symptoms.CCS is prone to thromboembolism,but clinical workers have not yet established a clinical consciousness of preventing thromboembolism.The present case illustrates pulmonary embolism(PE)complicated by CCS.CASE SUMMARY A 46-year-old male patient presented with mucus,purulent,and bloody stool.Ectodermal changes included skin pigmentation,alopecia,and nail dystrophy.Colonoscopy revealed the presence of multiple polyps.After a comprehensive evaluation,the patient was diagnosed with CCS.During the disease,he was also diagnosed with pulmonary embolism,Riehl's melanosis,and intestinal flora imbalance.After symptomatic treatment with omeprazole,mesalazine,rivaroxaban,nutritional support,and regulation of intestinal flora,the patient’s symptoms were significantly relieved.CONCLUSION CCS complicated with PE was reported for the first time in China in this study.Despite the fact that CCS is extremely rare,patients with CCS should be classified as a high-risk venous thromboembolism(VTE)population,and emphasis should be placed on venous thromboembolism risk assessment and stratification,deep venous thromboembolism screening,prevention of VTE,and careful long-term follow-up.

Pulmonary embolism after shoulder surgery:Is it a real threat?

Pulmonary embolism(PE)is a rare but devastating complication of shoulder surgery.Apart from increased morbidity and mortality rates,it may significantly impair postoperative recovery and functional outcome.Its frequency accounts for up to 5.7%of all shoulder surgery procedures with a higher occurrence in women and patients older than 70 years.It is most commonly associated with thrombophilia,diabetes mellitus,obesity,smoking,hypertension,and a history of malignancy.PE usually occurs secondary to upper or lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis(DVT).However,in rare cases,the source of the thrombi cannot be determined.Prophylaxis for PE following shoulder surgery remains a topic of debate,and the standard of care does not routinely require prophylactic medication for DVT prophylaxis.Early ambulation and elastic stockings are important preventative measures for DVT of the lower extremity and medical agents such as aspirin,low-molecular-weight heparin,and vitamin K antagonists are indicated for high-risk patients,long-lasting operations,or concomitant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.The most common symptoms of PE include chest pain and shortness of breath,but PE can also be asymptomatic in patients with intrinsic tolerance of hypoxia.Patients with DVT may also present with swelling and pain of the respective extremity.The treatment of PE includes inpatient or outpatient anticoagulant therapy if the patient is hemodynamically unstable or stable,respectively.Hemodynamic instability may require transfer to the intensive care unit,and cardiovascular arrest can be implicated in fatal events.An important issue for patients with PE in the postoperative period after shoulder surgery is residual stiffness due to a delay in rehabilitation and a prolonged hospital stay.Early physiotherapy and range-of-motion exercises do not adversely affect the prognosis of PE and are highly recommended to preserve shoulder mobility and function.

Pulmonary embolism secondary to acute anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction:a case report

Thrombophilia denotes a condition,whether acquired or hereditary,characterized by increased susceptibility to hypercoagulation.[1]This condition was first described in 1965,coinciding with the discovery of an inherited predisposition to venous thromboembolism(VTE)in patients deficient in antithrombin III.[2]While arterial and venous thromboses are common in hospitalized patients,acute myocardial infarction(AMI)and pulmonary embolism(PE)stand out as lifethreateningconditions.However,theoccurrenceof AMI complicated by PE is exceedingly rare,especially when considering cases where paradoxical embolism originating from a patent foramen ovale is absent.This report presents a case of AMI complicated with PE.A comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology of this rare yet critical condition is important for ensuring prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Hepatic steatosis is associated with dysregulated cholesterol metabolism and altered protein acetylation dynamics in chickens

Background Hepatic steatosis is a prevalent manifestation of fatty liver, that has detrimental effect on the health and productivity of laying hens, resulting in economic losses to the poultry industry. Here, we aimed to systematically investigate the genetic regulatory mechanisms of hepatic steatosis in laying hens.Methods Ninety individuals with the most prominent characteristics were selected from 686 laying hens according to the accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver, and were graded into three groups, including the control, mild hepatic steatosis and severe hepatic steatosis groups. A combination of transcriptome, proteome, acetylome and lipidome analyses, along with bioinformatics analysis were used to screen the key biological processes, modifications and lipids associated with hepatic steatosis.Results The rationality of the hepatic steatosis grouping was verified through liver biochemical assays and RNA-seq. Hepatic steatosis was characterized by increased lipid deposition and multiple metabolic abnormalities. Integration of proteome and acetylome revealed that differentially expressed proteins(DEPs) interacted with differentially acetylated proteins(DAPs) and were involved in maintaining the metabolic balance in the liver. Acetylation alterations mainly occurred in the progression from mild to severe hepatic steatosis, i.e., the enzymes in the fatty acid oxidation and bile acid synthesis pathways were significantly less acetylated in severe hepatic steatosis group than that in mild group(P < 0.05). Lipidomics detected a variety of sphingolipids(SPs) and glycerophospholipids(GPs) were negatively correlated with hepatic steatosis(r ≤-0.5, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the severity of hepatic steatosis was associated with a decrease in cholesterol and bile acid synthesis and an increase in exogenous cholesterol transport.Conclusions In addition to acquiring a global and thorough picture of hepatic steatosis in laying hens, we were able to reveal the role of acetylation in hepatic steatosis and depict the changes in hepatic cholesterol metabolism. The findings provides a wealth of information to facilitate a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of fatty liver and contributes to the development of therapeutic strategies.

Cholesterol and Sericin as First Aid for Damaged Cells

Cells are surrounded by a double-layered phospholipid cell membrane responsible for the isolation of intracellular contents, active regulation of uptake from the extracellular environment, and intercellular connection and communication. These cell membranes must be intact and functionally active for cell survival and biological functioning. Compromised damage repair mechanisms usually result in impaired cellular homeostasis, leading to early or late problems. Chronic myopathies, certain myocardial diseases, aging, and acute or chronic neurodegenerative diseases (like Parkinson and Alzheimer) are directly related to cell membrane damage. This study examined the effect of a cholesterol-loaded nanoparticle (methyl-beta cyclodextrin) or the silk protein sericin on cell membrane and DNA integrity and cell viability in an in vitro cell damage model (frozen-thawed rabbit sperm cells). The cells were stored in liquid nitrogen (-196°C), thawed in small batches, and treated with cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrin or sericin before incubation at 35°C for 4 hours. Cell membrane integrity, DNA damage, and viability rates were assessed immediately after thawing and after the incubation period. The administration of sericin and cholesterol in a cell damage model increased cell survival and reduced DNA damage over a 4-hour post-thaw incubation period, suggesting their potential use as a “first aid” intervention at the cellular level.

Biochemistry and transcriptome analysis reveal condensed tannins alleviate liver injury induced by regulating cholesterol metabolism pathway

Free cholesterol has been considered to be a critical risk factor of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).It remains unknown whether dietary intake of condensed tannins(CTs)have distinguishable effects to alleviate liver damage caused by a high cholesterol diet.Male C57BL/6 mice were fed a high cholesterol diet for 6 weeks,and given CTs treatment at a dosage of 200 mg/(kg·day)at the same time.The results indicated that compared with mice fed a normal diet,a high cholesterol diet group resulted in significant weight loss,dysregulation of lipid metabolism in blood and liver,and oxidative stress in the liver,but CTs treatment dramatically reversed these negative effects.Hematoxylin and eosin(H&E)staining and frozen section observation manifested that CTs treatment could effectively reduce the deposition of liver cholesterol and tissue necrosis caused by high cholesterol intake.CTs alleviated liver injury mainly by regulating the expression of related genes in cholesterol metabolism pathway and AMPK phosphorylation.Our results confirmed that CTs have remarkable cholesterol lowering and anti-liver injury effects in vivo.

Cholesterol metabolism: physiological versus pathological aspects in intracerebral hemorrhage

Cholesterol is an important component of plasma membranes and participates in many basic life functions,such as the maintenance of cell membrane stability,the synthesis of steroid hormones,and myelination.Cholesterol plays a key role in the establishment and maintenance of the central nervous system.The brain contains 20%of the whole body’s cholesterol,80%of which is located within myelin.A huge number of processes(e.g.,the sterol regulatory element-binding protein pathway and liver X receptor pathway)participate in the regulation of cholesterol metabolism in the brain via mechanisms that include cholesterol biosynthesis,intracellular transport,and efflux.Certain brain injuries or diseases involving crosstalk among the processes above can affect normal cholesterol metabolism to induce detrimental consequences.Therefore,we hypothesized that cholesterol-related molecules and pathways can serve as therapeutic targets for central nervous system diseases.Intracerebral hemorrhage is the most severe hemorrhagic stroke subtype,with high mortality and morbidity.Historical cholesterol levels are associated with the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage.Moreover,secondary pathological changes after intracerebral hemorrhage are associated with cholesterol metabolism dysregulation,such as neuroinflammation,demyelination,and multiple types of programmed cell death.Intracellular cholesterol accumulation in the brain has been found after intracerebral hemorrhage.In this paper,we review normal cholesterol metabolism in the central nervous system,the mechanisms known to participate in the disturbance of cholesterol metabolism after intracerebral hemorrhage,and the links between cholesterol metabolism and cell death.We also review several possible and constructive therapeutic targets identified based on cholesterol metabolism to provide cholesterol-based perspectives and a reference for those interested in the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage.

Silver carp muscle hydrolysate ameliorated atherosclerosis and liver injury in apoE-/- mice: the modulator effects on enterohepatic cholesterol metabolism

Atherosclerosis(AS)is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases(CVDs)and a strong link with hepatic steatosis.Silver carp muscle hydrolysate(SCH)possess various beneficial activities but its effect on AS and hepatic steatosis is yet unknown.This study aimed to investigate the effects of SCH on AS lesions and hepatic steatosis using apoE-/-mice.Results showed that SCH significantly reduced the vascular AS plaques and alleviated hepatic steatosis lesions in apoE-/-mice.Consistent with this,the lipid levels both in circulation and liver were lowered by SCH.The mechanism analysis showed SCH down-regulated the expression of genes involved in lipoproteins production while up-regulated the expression of genes related to reverse cholesterol transport(RCT)in liver.Meanwhile,SCH remarkably promoted transintestinal cholesterol excretion(TICE)process in intestine,partly contributing to the reduction of blood lipids.The peptide profile data indicated LYF,HWPW,FPK,and YPR are the main peptides in SCH that play a vital role in alleviating AS lesions and hepatic steatosis.Our findings provided new knowledge for the application of SCH in ameliorating CVDs and liver diseases.

The role of cholesterol metabolism in lung cancer

Elevated serum cholesterol metabolism is associated with a reduced risk of lung cancer.Disrupted cholesterol metabolism is evident in both lung cancer patients and tumor cells.Inhibiting tumor cell cholesterol uptake or biosynthesis pathways,through the modulation of receptors and enzymes such as liver X receptor and sterolregulatory element binding protein 2,effectively restrains lung tumor growth.Similarly,promoting cholesterol excretion yields comparable effects.Cholesterol metabolites,including oxysterols and isoprenoids,play a crucial role in regulating cholesterol metabolism within tumor cells,consequently impacting cancer progression.In lung cancer patients,both the cholesterol levels in the tumor microenvironment and within tumor cells significantly influence cell growth,proliferation,and metastasis.The effects of cholesterol metabolism are further mediated by the reprogramming of immune cells such as T cells,B cells,macrophages,myeloid-derived suppressor cells,among others.Ongoing research is investigating drugs targeting cholesterol metabolism for clinical treatments.Statins,targeting the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway,are widely employed in lung cancer treatment,either as standalone agents or in combination with other drugs.Additionally,drugs focusing on cholesterol transportation have shown promise as effective therapies for lung cancer.In this review,we summarized current research regarding the rule of cholesterol metabolism and therapeutic advances in lung cancer.

Inhibitory effect of procyanidin B2 and tannin acid on cholesterol esterase and their synergistic effect with orlistat

This study was aimed to analyze the effect of procyanidin B2(PC)and tannin acid(TA)on the activities of cholesterol esterase(CEase)and the inhibitory mechanisms of enzymatic activity.The interaction mechanisms were investigated by enzymatic kinetics,multi-spectroscopy methods,thermodynamics analysis,molecular docking,and dynamic simulations.PC and TA could bind with CEase and inhibit the activity of enzyme in a mixed-competitive manner and non-competitive manner,which was verified by molecular docking simulations and dynamics simulations.Also,PC and TA showed the synergistic inhibition with orlistat.Fluorescence,UVvis and the thermodynamic analysis revealed that the complexes were formed from CEase and inhibitors by noncovalent interaction.As revealed by the circular dichroism results,both PC and TA decreased enzymatic activities by altering the conformations of CEase.The inhibition of PC and TA on CEase might be one mechanism for its cholesterol-lowering effect.

Food-derived peptides with inhibitory capacity for HMG-CoA reductase activity: a potential nutraceutical for hypercholesterolemia

Cardiovascular diseases(CVDs)are the leading global cause of mortality and disease burden.Statins are the most prescribed lipid-lowering drugs to treat hypercholesterolemia and prevent CVDs.The biochemical mechanism of statins consists of competitive inhibition of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase enzyme(HMG-CoAR),the limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis.Due to statin intolerance in some patient groups,the search for new inhibitors is a field of great interest.This review focusses on the studies reporting the inhibitory effect of protein hydrolysates and biopeptides on the HMG-CoAR enzyme activity.The analysis of the action mechanism and physicochemical characteristics of the HMG-CoAR inhibitory peptides revealed that the molecular weight,amino acid composition,charge,and polarity are key aspects of the interaction with the HMG-CoAR enzyme.In conclusion,this review reveals the potential of using food peptides as new cholesterol-lowering agents and opens a new interesting field of research.However,clinical approaches are mandatory to confirm their therapeutic hypercholesterolemic effect.

Research progress on the clinical diagnosis and treatment of COPD with pulmonary embolism

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)is one of the most common and important diseases leading to the death of elderly patients in the world at present.It is characterized by continuous airflow restriction and irreversible chronic airway obstruction,which can easily lead to a variety of complications and accompanying symptoms,greatly affecting the quality of life of individuals and increasing the economic burden of families and society.Pulmonary embolism(PE)is one of the complications of COPD,which can lead to pulmonary blood circulation and respiratory failure,with a high risk of death.However,because its clinical symptoms overlap with the symptoms of acute exacerbation of COPD and lack of specific clinical manifestations and laboratory tests,it is easy to be misdiagnosed and ignored,thus delaying the treatment of patients and affecting the prognosis.This article will elaborate on the clinical diagnosis and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease combined with pulmonary embolism,providing certain value for early identification of COPD combined with PE patients and the severity of the condition.

Monocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio as a predictor of the activity of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy

AIM:To evaluate the relationship between monocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio(MHR)and the disease activity of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy(TAO).METHODS:A total of 87 patients were classified into two groups based on clinical activity score(CAS)scoring criteria:high CAS group(n=62,the CAS score was≥3);low CAS group(n=25,the CAS score was<3).In addition,a group of healthy people(n=114)were included to compared the MHR.Proptosis,MHR,average signal intensity ratio(SIR),average lacrimal gland(LG)-SIR,average extraocular muscles(EOM)area from 87 patients with TAO were calculated in magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),and compared between these two groups.Correlation testing was utilized to evaluate the association of parameters among the clinical variables.RESULTS:Patients in high CAS group had a higher proptosis(P=0.041)and MHR(P=0.048).Compared to the healthy group,the MHR in the TAO group was higher(P=0.001).Correlation testing declared that CAS score was strongly associated with proptosis and average SIR,and MHR was positively associated with CAS score,average SIR,and average LG-SIR.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)of MHR was 0.6755.CONCLUSION:MHR,a novel inflammatory biomarker,has a significant association with CAS score and MRI imaging(average SIR and LG-SIR)and it can be a new promising predictor during the active phase of TAO.

Associations between remnant cholesterol levels and mortality in patients with diabetes

BACKGROUND Dyslipidemia is frequently present in patients with diabetes.The associations of remnant cholesterol and mortality remains unclear in patients with diabetes.AIM To explore the associations of remnant cholesterol with all-cause and cardiovas-cular mortality in patients with diabetes.METHODS This prospective cohort study included 4740 patients with diabetes who par-ticipated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 through 2018.Remnant cholesterol was used as the exposure variable,and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were considered outcome events.Outcome data were obtained from the National Death Index,and all participants were followed from the interview date until death or December 31,2019.Multivariate proportional Cox regression models were used to explore the associations between exposure and outcomes,in which remnant cholesterol was modeled as both a categorical and a continuous variable.Restricted cubic splines(RCSs)were calculated to assess the nonlinearity of associations.Subgroup(stratified by sex,age,body mass index,and duration of diabetes)and a series of sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the robustness of the associations.RESULTS During a median follow-up duration of 83 months,1370 all-cause deaths and 389 cardiovascular deaths were documented.Patients with remnant cholesterol levels in the third quartile had a reduced risk of all-cause mortality[hazard ratio(HR)95%confidence interval(CI):0.66(0.52-0.85)];however,when remnant cholesterol was modeled as a continuous variable,it was associated with increased risks of all-cause[HR(95%CI):1.12(1.02-1.21)per SD]and cardiovascular[HR(95%CI):1.16(1.01-1.32),per SD]mortality.The RCS demonstrated nonlinear associations of remnant cholesterol with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.Subgroup and sensitivity analyses did not reveal significant differences from the above results.CONCLUSION In patients with diabetes,higher remnant cholesterol was associated with increased risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality,and diabetes patients with slightly higher remnant cholesterol(0.68-1.04 mmol/L)had a lower risk of all-cause mortality.

Cerebral fat embolism following autologous fat injection in facial reconstruction:A case report

BACKGROUND Autologous fat injection in facial reconstruction is a common cosmetic surgery.Although cerebral fat embolism(CFE)as a complication is rare,it carries serious health risks.CASE SUMMARY We present a case of a 29-year-old female patient who developed acute CFE following facial fat filling surgery.After the surgery,the patient experienced symptoms including headache,nausea,vomiting,and difficulty breathing,which was followed by neurological symptoms such as slurred speech and left-sided weakness.Comprehensive physical examination and auxiliary investigations,including blood tests,head and neck computed tomography angiography,and cranial magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging,were performed upon admission.The clinical diagnosis was acute cerebral embolism following facial fat filling surgery.Treatment included measures to improve cerebral circulation,dehydration for intracranial pressure reduction,nutritional support,and rehabilitation therapy for left limb function.The patient showed a significant improvement in symptoms after 2 weeks of treatment.She recovered left limb muscle strength to grade 5,had clear speech,and experienced complete relief of headache.CONCLUSION Our case highlights the potential occurrence of severe complications in patients undergoing fat injection in facial reconstruction.To prevent these complications,plastic surgeons should enhance their professional knowledge and skills.

Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for the treatment of obstructive shock caused by venous air embolism:A case report

BACKGROUND Venous air embolism(VAE)is a potentially lethal condition,with a reported incidence rate of about 0.13%,and the true incidence may be higher since many VAE are asymptomatic.The current treatments for VAE include Durant's maneuver,aspiration and removal of air through venous catheters,and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.For critically ill patients,use of cardiotonic drugs and chest compressions remain useful strategies.The wider availability of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)has brought a new option for VAE patients.CASE SUMMARY A 53-year-old female patient with VAE presented to the emergency clinic due to abdominal pain with fever for 1 d and unconsciousness for 2 h.One day ago,the patient suffered from abdominal pain,fever,and diarrhea.She suddenly became unconscious after going to the toilet during the intravenous infusion of ciprofloxacin 2 h ago,accompanied by nausea and vomiting,during which a small amount of gastric contents were discharged.She was immediately sent to a local hospital,where cranial and chest computed tomography showed bilateral pneumonia as well as accumulated air visible in the right ventricle and pulmonary artery.The condition deteriorated despite endotracheal intubation,rehydration,and other treatments,and the patient was then transferred to our hospital.Veno-arterial ECMO was applied in our hospital,and the patient's condition gradually improved.The patient was successfully weaned from ECMO and extubated after two days.CONCLUSION ECMO may be an important treatment for patients with VAE in critical condition.

Multiple paradoxical embolisms caused by central venous catheter thrombus passing through a patent foramen ovale: A case report

BACKGROUND To date,this is the first case of a paradoxical embolism(PDE)that concurrently manifested in the coronary and lower limb arteries and was secondary to a central venous catheter(CVC)thrombus via a patent foramen ovale(PFO).CASE SUMMARY Here,we report a case of simultaneous coronary and lower limb artery embolism in a PFO patient carrier of a CVC.The patient presented to the hospital with acute chest pain and lower limb fatigue.Doppler ultrasound showed a large thrombus in the right internal jugular vein,precisely at the tip of the CVC.Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography confirmed the existence of a PFO,with inducible right-to-left shunting by the Valsalva maneuver.The patient was administered an extended course of anticoagulation therapy,and then the CVC was successfully removed.Percutaneous PFO closure was not undertaken.There was no recurrence during follow-up.CONCLUSION Thus,CVC-associated thrombosis is a potential source for multiple PDE in PFO patients.