Large Lipomatous Hypertrophy of the Interventricular Septum

We present the case of a 58-year-old woman who had large lipomatous hypertrophy of the interventricular septum, a condition that is reported very infrequently. Preoperative cardiac magnetic resonance images revealed an inhomogeneous, infiltrating mass that was suppressed in fat-suppression mode. The extensive mass was causing right ventricular dysfunction, so we excised it through a right ventricular approach. The findings on histologic analysis of the mass were consistent with lipomatous hypertrophy. The patient died of septic shock on the 28th postoperative day. In addition to the patient''s case, we discuss the characteristics and diagnosis of this rare entity.     

鼻窦CT评估腺样体切除术对儿童慢性鼻窦炎的影响

目的探索儿童慢性鼻窦炎的严重程度与腺样体大小的关系,分析腺样体切除术后儿童慢性鼻窦炎的预后情况。方法选取2018年8月至2018年12月于山东省立医院东院耳鼻喉科行腺样体切除术的119例患儿作为研究对象,术前通过电子鼻咽喉镜评估腺样体的大小,依据腺样体组织阻塞后鼻孔的面积将所有患者分为3组:A组(阻塞后鼻孔<70%,n=23),B组(阻塞后鼻孔70%~90%,n=42),C组(阻塞后鼻孔>90%,n=54)。分别于术前及术后3个月行鼻窦CT检查,利用Lund-Mackay评分评估鼻窦炎的严重程度,并比较手术前后患儿鼻窦炎的变化情况。结果A、B、C组Lund-Mackay评分分别为(3.91±3.44)分、(4.02±4.07)分、(7.67±6.46)分,C组与A、B组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。腺样体切除术后患儿的Lund-Mackay评分低于术前,差异具有统计学意义。结论腺样体的大小会影响鼻窦炎的严重程度,腺样体切除手术有助于儿童慢性鼻窦炎的恢复。     

Markers of left ventricular decompensation in aortic stenosis

Calcified aortic stenosis is a condition that affects the valve and the myocardium. As the valve narrows, left ventricular hypertrophy occurs initially as an adaptive mechanism to maintain cardiac output. Ultimately, the ventricle decompensates and patients transition towards heart failure and adverse events. Current guidelines recommend aortic valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis and evidence of decompensation based on either symptoms or an impaired ejection fraction <50%. However, symptoms can be subjective and correlate only modestly with the severity of aortic stenosis whilst impaired ejection fraction is an advanced manifestation and often irreversible. In this review, the authors will discuss the pathophysiology of left ventricular hypertrophy and the transition to heart failure. Subsequently, the authors will examine novel biomarkers that may better identify the transition from hypertrophy to heart failure and therefore guide the optimal timing for aortic valve replacement.     

Electrophysiological effects of short-term antihypertensive therapy

Evaluation of: Porthan K, Viitasalo M, Hiltunen TP et al. Short-term electrophysiological effects of losartan, bisoprolol, amlodipine, and hydrochlorothiazide in hypertensive men. Ann. Med. DOI: 10.1080/07853890802195211 (2008) (Epub ahead of print).

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) detected by ECG has been shown to be associated with a higher prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias in members of the general population, in a case–control series of hypertensive patients and in never-treated hypertensive patients. In-keeping with this, it has been observed that hypertension-induced LVH increases the risk of sudden cardiac death. Furthermore, a consistent bulk of data suggests antihypertensive therapy targeted at regression or prevention of electrocardiographic LVH may reduce the incidence of arrhythmias. In this regard, recent clinical trials showed that antihypertensive therapy may delay or prevent the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in patients with hypertension. Porthan et al. hypothesized that an antihypertensive therapy might also rapidly affect ventricular repolarization and sought to investigate the short-term electrophysiological effects of four common antihypertensive drugs, represented by an angiotensin II receptor blocker (losartan), a β-blocker (bisoprolol), a calcium channel blocker (amlodipine) and a thiazide diuretic (hydrochlorothiazide) in hypertensive men. Porthan et al. showed that losartan and bisoprolol favorably affected ventricular repolarization, with beneficial effects on ECG parameters of ventricular repolarization duration and heterogeneity. On the contrary, hydrochlorothiazide significantly increased repolarization heterogeneity, while amlodipine administration did not affect ECG repolarization measures. Thus, the observed findings suggest an intriguing hypothesis on the possible role of antihypertensive therapy in favouring or preventing cardiac arrhythmias.     

心电向量图和心电图诊断右心室肥大的对比分析

目的分析总结心向量图与心电图联合应用诊断右心室肥大的临床意义和价值。方法选取62例右心室肥大患者,分别应用心电向量图和心电图进行单独检查,计算这两种方法的敏感性、特异性和准确性并加以分析总结。结果所有62例患者中,右心室压力值测试有56例患者呈阳性体征,而心电图示阳性例数为35例,心电向量图示阳性例数为52例,心电向量图的阳性诊断率要明显高于心电图,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论心电向量图在检测右心室肥大阳性方面更加正确,对轻、中度右心室肥大也更敏感,所以,在临床遇到符合右心室肥大症状者可以在使用心电图检查无阳性体征的基础上再加以心电向量图检查。     

Development of left ventricular hypertrophy in a novel porcine model of mitral regurgitation

Objectives. We aimed to develop a porcine model for chronic nonischemic mitral regurgitation (MR) to investigate left ventricular (LV) enlargement and eccentric hypertrophy. Design. Nonischemic MR was induced in 30 pigs by open-chest immobilization of the posterior mitral leaflet by transannular traction sutures that where applied in transmyocardial fashion. A sham operated control group (n = 13) was included. Echocardiographic LV size and heart weight assessed at euthanasia were used to evaluate the development of LV enlargement and eccentric hypertrophy after 8 weeks follow-up. Results. Eight pigs died and seven were excluded due to mediastinal infection (n = 2) or failure to produce MR (n = 5). Thus, 28 pigs were included and were divided into three groups: controls (n = 12), mild MR (mMR; n = 10), and moderate to severe MR (sMR; n = 6). The change in LV internal diameter in diastole (LVIDd) from baseline to follow-up was significantly higher in the sMR group compared to that of the control group (P = 0.0017). Furthermore, LV weight was significantly increased in the mMR (P = 0.047) and the sMR (P = 0.0087) groups compared to that of the control group. Conclusions. A new model for chronic moderate to severe nonischemic MR with development of LV enlargement and eccentric hypertrophy within 8 weeks has been established in pigs.