No abstract

Substantial observational evidence has associated low vitamin D status with the risk of heart failure, ventricular remodeling, and clinical outcomes in heart failure, including mortality. However, trials assessing the influence of vitamin D supplementation on surrogate markers and clinical outcomes in heart failure have generally been small and inconclusive. There are insufficient data to recommend routine assessment or supplementation of vitamin D for the prevention or treatment of chronic heart failure. Prospective trials powered for clinical outcomes are warranted.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is a benign, uncommon variant of chronic cholecystitis characterised by focal or diffuse destructive inflammatory process of the gallbladder (GB). Macroscopically, it appears like yellowish tumour-like masses in the wall of the GB. This article reports on a 74-year-old woman with XGC mimicking GB cancer.

A pericardial cyst is a rare and benign congenital malformation, usually discovered in the third or fourth decade of life. Its clinical presentation is variable, as it may be asymptomatic or present with chest pain, shortness of breath, or rarely with cardiac tamponade and arrhythmias. We present an interesting case of a woman presenting with chest pain who was found to have a pericardial cyst.

A man with end-stage liver disease who presented with shortness of breath. He exhibited clinical platypnea (worsening shortness of breath on sitting up) and orthodeoxia (oxygen desaturation on sitting up). Follow-up investigations led to the diagnosis of hepatopulmonary syndrome.