To study the possible role of autonomic influences on the occurrence of frequent premature ventricular beats (VPBs) in subjects without structural heart disease.24-hour Holter ECG recordings (≥1500 VPBs/d, sinus rhythm) of 20 symptomatic patients (9 women, 11 men, mean age 58.9 years) without structural heart disease were used for the study. The circadian distribution pattern of VPBs was studied (paired t test) by dividing the day into 3 periods (16:00–22:00–06:00–16:00), and correlations were analyzed between the absolute (ln transformed) and relative (% of total beats) average hourly numbers of VPBs and the hourly mean values of global and vagal time domain parameters of heart rate variability (Pearson correlation).No significant (P > .3 for every comparison) tendency for circadian distribution of VPBs was found. However, VPBs showed a significant correlation with rMSSD (r = 0.51 and P = .02 for the relative number), which became even stronger if VPBs were > 8000/d (r = 0.65 and P = .04 for both numbers).The significant correlation between the number of VPBs and a vagally mediated parameter underlines the triggering/permitting effect of parasympathetic tone on ventricular ectopy. This fact suggests that initiation of beta-blocker therapy could not be recommended routinely in these patients.

Background: In sudden cardiac deaths (SCD), visceral adipose tissue has begun to manifest interest as a standalone cardiovascular risk factor. Studies have shown that epicardial adipose tissue can be seen as a viable marker of coronary atherosclerosis. This study aimed to evaluate, from a forensic perspective, the correlation between body mass index (BMI), heart weight, coronary and valvular atherosclerosis, left ventricular morphology, and the thickness of the epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) in sudden cardiac deaths, establishing an increased thickness of EAT as a novel risk factor. Methods: This is a retrospective case–control descriptive study that included 80 deaths that were autopsied, 40 sudden cardiac deaths, and 40 control cases who hanged themselves and had unknown pathologies prior to their death. In all the autopsies performed, the thickness of the epicardial adipose tissue was measured in two regions of the left coronary artery, and the left ventricular morphology, macro/microscopically quantified coronary and valvular atherosclerosis, and weight of the heart were evaluated. Results: This study revealed a higher age in the SCD group (58.82 ± 9.67 vs. 53.4 ± 13.00; p = 0.03), as well as a higher incidence in females (p = 0.03). In terms of heart and coronary artery characteristics, there were higher values of BMI (p = 0.0009), heart weight (p < 0.0001), EAT of the left circumflex artery (LCx) (p < 0.0001), and EAT of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) (p < 0.0001). In the multivariate analysis, a high baseline value of BMI (OR: 4.05; p = 0.004), heart weight (OR: 5.47; p < 0.001), EAT LCx (OR: 23.72; p < 0.001), and EAT LAD (OR: 21.07; p < 0.001) were strong independent predictors of SCD. Moreover, age over 55 years (OR: 2.53; p = 0.045), type Vb plaque (OR: 17.19; p < 0.001), mild valvular atherosclerosis (OR: 4.88; p = 0.002), and moderate left ventricle dilatation (OR: 16.71; p = 0.008) all act as predictors of SCD. Conclusions: The data of this research revealed that higher baseline values of BMI, heart weight, EAT LCx, and EAT LAD highly predict SCD. Furthermore, age above 55 years, type Vb plaque, mild valvular atherosclerosis, and left ventricle dilatation were all risk factors for SCD.

We report three primary thyroid angiosarcoma (PTA) cases revealing distinctive morphological features. A systematic literature review completed our analysis to evaluate the most important morphological factors for predicting prognosis in PTAs. Three rare PTA cases were analysed. In addition, we identified 46 previously reported PTAs with available follow-up data to compare morphological features related to prognosis between patients with a favourable versus aggressive outcome. The three PTAs displayed considerable architectural heterogeneity: case 1 presented a well circumscribed tumour, extensively necrotic, with only a few highly pleomorphic vascular proliferation; cases 2 and 3 both exhibited plump epithelioid cells forming rudimentary vascular spaces or solid sheets. Case 3 also presented angioinvasion. Cases 1 and 2 were alive and disease-free at 40 and 73 months following diagnosis, respectively, whereas case 3 died within 14 months. Other significant prognostic factors were highlighted by our review and literature data analysis: increased tumour size (p = 0.042), extrathyroidal extension (p = 0.009), and distant metastases at diagnosis (p = 0.001). Although regarded as highly aggressive, PTA can also be characterised by an unusual favourable outcome. For the first time we highlight the importance of reporting angioinvasion, in cases of PTA, as a possible adverse prognostic factor.

Life-threatening injuries represent those types of lesions that certainly lead to the victim’s death if no qualified medical care is applied in due time. We hold important the aspect of imminent danger, and that the lesion, in its natural way of evolution, will determine the person’s death, his life being saved only by a qualified medical intervention. The juridical correspondent is represented in article 194: bodily harm - The new criminal code and the new criminal procedure code. The authors review and comment on the main particular aspects of life-threatening traumas, based on topography, anatomical aspects and forensic interpretation, in order to offer arguments to be incorporated from a medico-legal point of view, reported to the criteria of life-threatening conditions. We shall illustrate the subject by 6 case reports.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading cause of mortality globally (violent or non-violent), with few to no feasible remedies. The etiopathogenesis of SCD involves a complex and multilayered substrate in which dynamic factors interact with a preexistent cardiovascular pathology, which is often undiagnosed and untreated, leading to the rapid development of cardiac rhythm disorders and cardiac arrest. Cardiovascular disease is a rare but emerging factor in maternal mortality that can be justified by an upward trend in the mean age of pregnant individuals. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is defined as a non-traumatic and non-iatrogenic separation of the coronary arterial wall by intramural hemorrhage with or without an intimal tear. The resulting intramural hematoma compresses the coronary arteries, reducing blood flow and causing myocardial ischemia. SCAD continues to be misdiagnosed, underdiagnosed, and managed as an atherosclerotic acute coronary syndrome, which may harm patients with SCAD. The latest research shows that individuals who have or have had coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may also present coagulation abnormalities, so infection with COVID-19 during pregnancy can increase this hypercoagulable condition, thus increasing the risk of SCAD and SCD. This present study reports two cases over 35 years, one being infected with SARS-COV2 one month before the event and the other being tested positive during admission, both asymptomatic, who were declared healthy on periodic clinical evaluations, with pregnancies over 35 weeks, with normal fetal development, which suddenly caused chest pain, dyspnea, and loss of consciousness, required emergency c-sections, and died suddenly after they were performed. In both cases, the cause of death was SCAD on the anterior-descending artery. In both cases, emergency percutaneous coronary intervention was performed. The second part of the study represents a literature overview of SCAD during COVID-19. In addition to pregnancy hormonal changes, other potential hormone-mediated SCAD triggers are still under discussion.