Failure of gated SPECT and echocardiography to detect large apical aneurysm secondary to hyperdynamic left ventricular wall at the aneurysm neck

We present a patient with a history of coronary artery disease and exertional angina after an acute anterior myocardial infarction. Angiography and ventriculography revealed multivessel coronary artery disease and a large apical aneurysm. Echocardiography and gated SPECT studies were performed for further evaluation of ischemia and assessment of left ventricular function. Gated SPECT and echocardiography failed to detect a large apical aneurysm due to a hyperdynamic left ventricular wall at the neck of the aneurysm. This case demonstrates the importance of using multiple imaging modalities in the evaluation of ventricular function in the setting of coronary artery disease.     

正常婴儿肺动脉血流特征及解剖学原理分析

目的 应用超声多普勒技术测量正常婴儿肺动脉主干及左右肺动脉血流速度,并初步探讨其可能的机理.方法 使用GE Vivid7超声诊断仪检查60例正常新生儿,分别检测1周、1个月、6个月及1年时主动脉内径AOD;肺动脉主干内径MPA及血流速度Pv,左、右肺动脉内径LPA、RPA及血流速度LPv、RPv,并计算LPA RPA/AO.结果 1周时左、右肺动脉速度高于肺动脉主干速度,且以右肺动脉明显,1周后左、右肺动脉血流速度逐渐减慢,1年后均基本低于肺动脉主干内血流速度,肺动脉主干血流速度及LPA RPA/AO比例在1周、1个月、6个月及1年组差异无统计学意义.结论 正常新生儿左、右肺动脉血流速度较高,随生长、发育肺动脉血流速度逐渐降低直至正常.     

Percutaneous Endovascular Treatment for Stenoses and Occlusions of Infrarenal Aorta and Aortoiliac Bifurcation: Midterm Results

OBJECTIVE: evaluation and comparison of the endovascular treatment of isolated aortic and aortoiliac atherosclerotic lesions (stenoses and occlusions). METHODS: a percutaneous endovascular procedure was performed in 52 patients (38 men and 14 women) with a mean age of 52 years (range, 25-85 years). The baseline angiogram showed 35 aortic lesions (31 stenoses, 4 occlusions) and 17 aortoiliac lesions (14 stenoses, 3 occlusions). Percutaneous techniques used in this series included variable combinations of transluminal angioplasty and stenting. All stents placements were performed over-the-wire using the transfemoral route (most often bilateral approach). Clinical examination and Duplex-scan were performed at discharge, 1 month, 6 months, 12 months, and then yearly. RESULTS: technical success was 100% for aortic and aortoiliac lesions. Angiographic success rates were comparable for aortic (91%) and aortoiliac (94%) lesions. No death occurred during or early after the endovascular intervention. Duplex-scan confirmed 100% patency rate at discharge. There was no significant difference between the aortic (94%) and aortoiliac (96%) groups regarding immediate clinical improvement. Mean follow-up was 34+/-31 months (range, 0-130 months). The cumulative primary patency rate at 36 months was 85% in the aortic group and 86% in the aortoiliac group. Clinical success, defined as a symptom-free status at the end of follow-up, was also similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: endovascular treatment of isolated aortic lesions of the infra-renal aorta has favorable outcomes comparable to those of aortoiliac lesions.     

肿瘤抑制因子PTEN蛋白在自发性高血压大鼠主动脉平滑肌中的表达

目的：研究PTEN蛋白在雄性自发性高血压大鼠及SD大鼠主动脉中的表达。方法：取18周龄和26周龄雄性自发性高血压大鼠及同龄雄性SD大鼠主动脉石蜡包埋切片，免疫组织化学观察PTEN在主动脉平滑肌细胞中的表达。结果：SD大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞中存在PTEN阳怀免疫反应产物。自发性高血压大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞也存在PTEN阳性免疫反应产物，但免疫反应产物的染色强度明显低于SD大鼠。结论：SD大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞PTEN高表达，自发性高血压大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞PTEN表达呈下降趋势。提示PTEN可能在自发性高血压大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞重塑过程中发挥作用。     

室间隔夹层瘤的超声诊断(附4例报告)

目的 总结室间隔夹层瘤的超声心动图诊断及临床应用价值。方法1985～2005年超声诊断罕见的室间隔夹层瘤4例。超声主要取左室长轴、四腔心、五腔心、大动脉短轴及非标准切面，观察主动脉窦的形态及结构：如扩张窦瘤的大小、窦壁厚度、窦瘤破口的部位、窦瘤破口与室间隔之间的关系，主动脉窦瘤与室间隔夹层瘤之间交通口的大小，测量形成室间隔夹层瘤的大小及夹层瘤左、右室面的厚度，结合彩色多普勒观察心动周期夹层瘤与主动脉窦瘤血流动态变化，频谱多普勒测量窦瘤与室间隔夹层瘤之间的血流速度。结果4例室间隔夹层瘤均为主动脉右窦破人室间隔基底段，且均行手术治疗证实超声诊断。结论超声心动图对室间隔夹层瘤可直接做出诊断，超声诊断价值在于早发现、早诊断、及早治疗，并可为外科选择手术方式提供重要的有价值的依据。     

Predictive value of local and core laboratory echocardiographic assessment of cardiac function in patients with chronic stable angina: The ACTION study.

AIMS: To evaluate the relationship between echocardiographic cardiac function and outcome in patients with stable symptomatic angina. METHODS: Baseline echo left ventricular ejection fraction and volume data measured in a central laboratory was available for 7016 patients (92% of the total) participating in the ACTION trial (A Coronary disease Trial Investigating Outcome with Nifedipine GITS). Ejection fraction was also measured by investigators. Evaluation of the different echocardiographic variables was based on adjusted hazard ratios comparing the unfavourable limit of the 90% range of the variable concerned to the favourable limit. RESULTS: The centrally measured ejection fraction was the most powerful predictor of all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio=2.5), myocardial infarction, any stroke or transient ischaemic attack and overt heart failure (adjusted hazard ratio=4.5). The addition of either end systolic volume or end diastolic volume to ejection fraction did not materially affect the power of prediction. Compared to the central ejection fraction measurement, the investigator-measured ejection fraction was a less powerful predictor for all outcomes considered. CONCLUSION: Routine echocardiography carefully analysed by standardised methods provides useful prognostic information in patients with stable angina, including for total mortality.     

Hybrid procedures as a combined endovascular and open approach for pararenal and thoracoabdominal aortic pathologies

OBJECTIVES: to report our experience with hybrid vascular procedures in patients with pararenal and thoracoabdominal aortic pathologies. METHODS: 68 patients were treated for thoracoabdominal aortic pathologies between October 1999 and February 2004; 19 patients (16 men; mean age 68, range 40-79) with high risk for open thoracoabdominal repair were considered to be candidates for combined endovascular and open repair. Aortic pathologies included five thoracoabdominal Crawford I aneurysms, one postdissection expanding aneurysm, three symptomatic plaque ruptures (Crawford IV), five combined thoracic descending and infrarenal aneurysms with a healthy visceral segment, three juxtarenal or para-anastomotic aneurysms, and two patients with simultaneous open aortic arch replacement and a rendezvous maneuver for thoracic endografting. Commercially available endografts were implanted with standardized endovascular techniques after revascularization of visceral and renal arteries. RESULTS: Technical success was 95%. One patient developed a proximal type I endoleak after chronic expanding type B dissection and currently is waiting conversion. Nine patients underwent elective, five emergency and five urgent (within 24 h) repair. 17 operations were performed simultaneously, and 2 as a staged procedure. Postoperative complications include two retroperitoneal hemorrhages, and one patient required long-term ventilation with preexisting subglottic tracheal stenosis. Thirty-day mortality was 17% (one multiple organ failure, one secondary rupture after open aortic arch repair, one myocardial infarction). Paraplegia or acute renal failure were not observed. Total survival rate was to 83% with a mean follow-up of 30 months. CONCLUSIONS: Midterm results of combined endovascular and open procedures in the thoracoabdominal aorta are encouraging in selected high risk patients. Staged interventions may reduce morbidity.     

Pitfalls in diagnosis of aortic dissection by angiography: Algorithmic approach utilizing CT and MRI

Dissection of the thoracic aorta is a life-threatening event requiring imaging studies to define the level of the tear and the intinmal flap. The “gold standard” has been angiography. This method may fail to demonstrate the dissection, however, due to overlap of the true and false lumens or a very thin flap that is imaged en face rather than tangentially. Computed tomography has a diagnostic accuracy of 95%, but can fail to image the dissection due to technical factors or a thrombosed false hunen. Magnetic resonance imaging requires a hemodynamically stable and cooperative patient. A diagnostic algorithm is proposed for diagnosis of aortic dissection based on renal function and the surgeon's imaging modality preference.     

多巴酚丁胺负荷超声心动图试验

对多巴酚丁胺负荷超声心动图试验诊断冠心病的理论基础、方法学及临床应用价值作一综述     

脉冲式多普勒超声心动图对糖尿病左室舒张功能的评价

用脉冲式多普勒超声心电图对51例糖尿病患者的左室舒张功能参数进行了测定.与正常对照组结果相比,糖尿病患者的左室舒张早晚期最大流速之比、快速充盈分数、快速充盈减速度及左室舒张早期最大流速显著降低,而左室舒张晚期最大流速显著增高.在糖尿病患者中,有视网膜病变组与无视网膜病变组相比,左室舒张早晚期最大流速之比、快速充盈分数及快速充盈加速度显著降低,而左室舒张晚期最大流速显著增高.提示糖尿病患者左室舒张功能受损.