A cross-sectional study was carried out in rural areas of Jawan Block, District Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India, covering a total population of 3760 drawn from 11 villages. The total number of confirmed cases of rheumatic heart disease was 24 with a prevalence rate of 6.4 per 1000 of the general rural population. The prevalence of rheumatic heart disease increased with age until the age of 25 years. Females were more prone to rheumatic heart disease compared to males. Socio-economic class had a direct impact on the occurrence of rheumatic heart disease.

Background Co-occurrence of Type II Abernethy malformation (AM) with Type 1 pulmonary hypertension (PH) is extremely rare. In these patients, management of AM leads to reversal of PH. Case presentation We report a case of 24-year-old male that presented with fever and dyspnea of insidious-onset. Initial X-ray chest revealed pulmonary edema, prominent pulmonary knuckle, and dilated right descending pulmonary artery. Two-dimensional echocardiography suggested raised pulmonary artery systolic pressure (145 mmHg) and pulmonary angiogram revealed findings suggestive of Type 1 PH. Treatment with Tab. Tadalafil-Bosentan (20/5 mg, thrice daily) was initiated, but no major relief was obtained. On day 10, dyspnea worsened. Routine ultrasound revealed splenomegaly. Further evaluation with Doppler of the portal vein was suggestive of portal hypertension, and arterial ammonia was found to be raised. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of abdomen and pelvis demonstrated a single dilated (1.3 cm) and torturous venous shunt between right internal iliac vein and superior mesenteric vein. Thus, a definitive diagnosis of Type II AM was reached. The patient was stabilized and subjected to the shunt closure with ASD Cocoon stent graft and recovered well. Conclusion Our case demonstrates a rare but reversible cause of PH. Type II AM should be included in the differential diagnosis of a patient presenting with dyspnea and provisionally diagnosed as a case of PH.

In the current settings, HER2/neu is not found to be a prognostic marker in head-and-neck cancers. Standard immunohistochemistry staining protocols need to be established like in breast cancers to aid uniform reporting and further evaluate the role of this important protooncogene in head-and-neck cancers.