Vol. 11 No. 1 (2024): Mediastinal Distortions & Archimedes Leverage of Research Funding

Learnings from Archimedes on the leverage of medical research funding in the post-Corona era

The Corona pandemic has increased pre-existing financial pressure on universities further. Universities will face closure as a realistic scenario in the future, and need to compete for research success. Medical faculties are at a particular risk of being the subject of cost-cutting measures. In this challenging environment, using the concept of financial leverage is key for maximising financial possibilities.

Mediastinal Distortions: A Rare Case of Congenital Anatomic Relocations of Mediastinal Structures and Vascular Anomalies in Combination with Heterotopic Conduction in Pulmonary Veins and Sick Sinus Syndrome

The case we present involves an atypically developed thoracic aorta, resulting in the consecutive displacement of the trachea and esophagus, combined with the unusual formation of vascular bridges between the ascending and descending thoracic aorta and the arising supraaortic branches. This represents a pathological entity further associated with a cardiac condition of Sick Sinus Syndrome and heterotopy of the excitation center in the pulmonary veins. Multiple descriptions of the combination of dextrocardia and Sick Sinus Syndrome have been reported by Aurora Bakalli et al. 2021 (1), as well as the combination of dextrocardia, persistent left superior vena cava, and Sick Sinus Syndrome by Gangliang Guo et al. 2017 (2), and another case of dextrocardia and Sick Sinus Syndrome by Junqian Luo et al. 2022 (3). Such combinations of anomalies have not been reported in larger statistical collections to date.