计算机技术定量分析三尖瓣返流患者右室收缩和舒张功能的研究

本研究对３０例三尖瓣返流患者同步进行了多普勒超声心动图和右心导管检查，应用计算机软件程序对三尖瓣返流频谱曲线进行微分处理。结果表明，两种技术测量的右室压力最大上升速率、右室心肌最大生理缩短速度、右室压力最大下降速率以及右室心肌松驰时间常数均高度相关（ｒ分别为０．９３，０．８６，０．９４，０．９５），表明三尖瓣返流压差法能够无创性估测右室收缩和舒张功能，应用计算机软件程序能够使测量方法简便、准确。     

Isolated tricuspid valve stenosis caused by infective endocarditis in an adult: Report of a case

We report herein the case of a 42-year-old man in whom dyspnea on exertion was found to be caused by isolated tricuspid stenosis. Two-dimensional echocardiogram showed thickening of the tricuspid valve with a markedly enlarged right atrium. A color-flow Doppler examination-revealed severe tricuspid stenosis without regurgitation and a Doppler-derived tricuspid diastolic pressure gradient of 23 mmHg. At the time of surgery, the patient was noted to have a stenotic tricuspid valve with thickened leaflets, fused commissures, and almost normal chorda tendineae. The valve leaflets were teased apart to the scattered specimen, and tricuspid valve replacement was successfully performed. Microscopic examination of the specimen demonstrated infective endocarditis. Isolated acquired tricuspid stenosis is extremely rare and, to our knowledge, this is the first case of infective endocarditis being involved as the primary cause.     

人工心瓣膜患者微栓子信号和凝血活性的相关性研究

目的 :研究人工心瓣膜患者脑动脉微栓子信号 (MES)的数量及相对强度与凝血活性的相关性。方法 :采用双门深经颅多普勒 (TCD)检测人工心瓣膜患者脑动脉MES ,同时检测患者凝血酶原时间国际通用比值 (INR) ,观察MES数量及相对强度与INR的相关性。结果 :MES阳性发现率 83 33% (2 5 30 ) ,MES出现频率 0～ 4 0 4 (中位数 4 0 )个 h ,MES平均相对强度 11～ 38(2 3 6 3±5 13)dB。INR1 12～ 3 5 1(1 95± 0 6 9)。MES数量及相对强度与INR无相关性。结论 :人工心瓣膜患者脑动脉MES与凝血活性无关 ,提示微栓子物质不是血栓性的     

Extracardiac Right Atrium-to-Right Ventricle Homograft for Uncorrectable Tricuspid Valve Disease

Surgically uncorrectable tricuspid valve disease in children is rare. However, when it happens the surgical options are very limited. Tricuspid valve replacement using a mechanical valve or stented bioprosthesis is impractical. Use of homografts in the “anatomic position” has its limitations. We report here the use of an extracardiac homograft connection between the right atrium and right ventricle in a 16-month-old boy in whom severe tricuspid valve stenosis developed after surgical repair of a complex ventricular septal defect associated with dextrocardia and anomalous systemic venous drainage. The patient remains well receiving no cardiac medication 12 months after the procedure.     

下肢静脉高压症顺行性静脉造影的诊断意义

本文对临床上有下肢静脉高压症的56例病人,共76条下肢,进行了顺行性静脉造影的X线研究。其中对12条下肢做了经皮腘静脉造影检查。作者认为:(1)下肢静脉高压除因下肢静脉血栓形成外,下肢深静脉瓣膜功能不全是其另一个主要原因。(2)经皮腘静脉造影是检测下肢深静脉瓣膜功能的有效、准确的方法。(3)下肢静脉造影的联合应用,在检查下肢静脉高压中具有科学性和准确性。     

Prostate Development in Prune Belly Syndrome (PBS) and Posterior Urethral Valves (PUV): Etiology of PBS-Lower Urinary Tract Obstruction or Primary Mesenchymal Defect?

Prune belly syndrome (PBS) has been recognized since 1950 as the triad of absent abdominal wall musculature, undescended testes, and urinary tract anomalies. The etiology, however, remains uncertain. Theories of mesenchymal maldevelopment, obstruction, and genetic origin have been proposed. To evaluate the role of lower urinary tract obstruction as it relates to prostatic development and PBS, we studied the lower urinary tract of 15 cases of PBS, 8 cases of posterior urethral values (PUV), and 34 age-matched controls. It is generally accepted that prostatic growth and development are dependent on mesenchymal-epithelial interactions. We evaluated the mesenchymal and epithelial differentiation and relationships, and found distinctly different and consistent abnormalities between PBS and PUV as compared with one another and controls. The findings suggest that in PBS, prostatic growth and development are hindered because of destruction or absence of the appropriate primitive mesenchyme. Our studies could not definitely exclude very early obstruction as a cause of the findings because of lack of appropriate fetal material.     

A small angle light scattering device for planar connective tissue microstructural analysis

The planar fibrous connective tissues of the body are composed of a dense extracellular network of collagen and elastin fibers embedded in a ground matrix, and thus can be thought of as biocomposites. Thus, the quantification of fiber architecture is an important step in developing an understanding of the mechanics of planar tissues in health and disease. We have used small angle light scattering (SALS) to map the gross fiber orientation of several soft membrane connective tissues. However, the device and analysis methods used in these studies required extensive manual intervention and were unsuitable for largescale fiber architectural mapping studies. We have developed an improved SALS device that allows for rapid data acquisition, automated high spatial resolution specimen positioning, and new analysis methods suitable for large-scale mapping studies. Extensive validation experiments revealed that the SALS device can accurately measure fiber orientation for up to a tissue thickness of at least 500 μm to an angular resolution of∼1^o and a spatial resolution of±254 μm. To demonstrate the new device’s capabilities, structural measurements from porcine aortic valve leaflets are presented. Results indicate that the new SALS device provides an accurate method for rapid quantification of the gross fiber structure of planar connective tissues.     

Staged Fontan procedure for mitral atresia associated with severe tricuspid regurgitation, pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary artery distortion

Optimal initial palliation and a subsequent staged approach is mandatory for high-risk Fontan candidates. We describe the case of mitral atresia with severe tricuspid regurgitation and pulmonary hypertension successfully managed by repeated palliation from the neonatal period and 2-stage Fontan surgery. A 1-month-old boy diagnosed with mitral atresia and double-outlet right ventricle underwent pulmonary artery banding at 1 month of age, followed by repeated pulmonary artery banding accompanied by tricuspid annuloplasty and atrial septal defect enlargement at 6 months. Because of the presence of pulmonary artery distortion, right ventricular dysfunction, and borderline pulmonary vascular resistance, a hemi-Fontan procedure was conducted with extended pulmonary artery plasty when the boy was 3 years and 8 months old. Cardiac catheterization done 3 months after showed improvement in risk factors, and the final Fontan operation (total cavopulmonary connection) was successfully done in conjunction with repeated tricuspid annuloplasty when the boy was 4 years and 5 months old. The patient remains in excellent clinical condition at the last follow-up 5 years after the final Fontan procedure with sinus rhythm and good ventricular function.     

Accessory atrioventricular pathway, supra-, and infrahisian conduction impaired due to mitral annulus calcification

Disorders of conduction occurring simultaneously in both normal and accessory pathways of patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome have only rarely been observed. To our knowledge this is the first report of impaired conduction in both pathways in WPW syndrome due to mitral annulus calcification (MAC). This case of WPW syndrome type A presented the following conduction abnormalities: (1) right bundle-branch block; (2) transient second-degree AV block with prolonged PR interval of the conducted beats; (3) during electrophysiological study, induction of tachycardia, dependent (phase 3) second-degree AV block, and occasionally conduction of two consecutive beats, the second showing an increased H-V interval (from 25 to 60 ms) and left bundle-branch block (LBBB) pattern, due to (4) infrahisian conduction abnormality.     

Radiologic search for embolized leaflets of prosthetic heart valves: A report of two cases

In a radiologic search for embolized leaflets of Edwards-Duromedics bileaflet valves in 2 patients, the embolized fragments were localized in the iliac vessels using computed tomography. Sonography was successful in one case and standard X-ray films of the abdomen were negative in both cases.In vitro investigations with Björk-Shiley and Edwards-Duromedics leaflets suggested that standard X-ray films of the abdomen and pelvis should be considered as the first investigational technique. If negative, computed tomography of the lower abdomen should be done.