Prognostic importance of quantitative echocardiographic evaluation in patients suspected of first non-massive pulmonary embolism

Aims: Patients suspected of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) frequentlyundergo echocardiography as a part of the initial work-up. Prognosticimplication of routine echocardiography in patients suspectedof PE remain to be established. Methods and results: Transthoracic echocardiography, including tissue Doppler imaging,was performed in 283 consecutive patients referred for ventilation/perfusionscintigraphy (V/Q scan) on suspicion of first non-massive PE.The prognostic information of quantitative measures of rightventricular (RV) size, function, and pressure was assessed.Patients with PE had a follow-up echocardiography after 1 yearand changes in the parameters were assessed. Patients with PE and normal V/Q scans had similar age-adjusted1 year mortality [10 and 12%, NS (not significant)], althoughpatients with indeterminate scans carried a poorer prognosis(16% survival, P = 0.0004). Among all patients left ventricular(LV) ejection fraction as well as shortening of the pulmonaryartery (PA) acceleration time (a measure of RV after-load) wasassociated with increased mortality [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.84per 10 ms increase, P < 0.0001]. In patients with confirmed PE, the PA acceleration time is predictiveof event-free survival (all-cause mortality and heart failurehospitalizations) adjusted for LV ejection fraction, age, andsex (HR = 0.78 per 10 ms increase, P = 0.04). Measures of regional myocardial function were not related tooutcome in this study, regardless of presence of PE. Conclusion: PA acceleration time and LV systolic function are independentpredictors of mortality in patients suspected of PE, and areindependent predictors of event-free survival in patients withconfirmed PE.     

Procedures associated with infective endocarditis in adults: A case confrol study

OBJECT: To assess the relative risk of infective endocarditis associatedwith various procedures and the protective efficacy of antibioticprophylaxis by a case-control study. BACKGROUND: Recommendations for the prevention of infective endocarditisare based on the hypothesis of a relationship between proceduresand infective endocarditis which is supported by anecdotal reportsand data from experimental models. METHODS: Cases met the Von Reyn's diagnostic criteria modified with echocardiographicand macroscopic findings, Controls were recruited from cardiologyor medicinal wards. Cases (n=171) and controls were matchedas regards sex, age and underlying cardiac condition, They wererequested to indicate all the medical, surgical or dental procedureswithin the previous 3 months, Among potential confounding factors,infectious episodes and skin wounds in the previous 3 monthswere reported, Antibiotic prophylaxis administration was documentedfor type, dosage, duration and administration schedule. RESULTS: Cases significantly more frequently than controls had undergoneat least one procedure (matched odds ratio, 1.6; 95% confidenceinterval, 1.01 to 2.53). Dental procedures considered as a wholewere not associated with an increased risk, although scalingand root canal treatment showed a trend towards a higher riskof infective endocarditis (P=0.065). Among non-dental procedures,only surgery appeared to be at risk (matched odds ratio, 4.7;95% confidence interval, 1.02 to 22). Considering all procedures,the risk of infective endocarditis increased significantly withthe number of procedures. While general co-morbid conditionsdid not differ between the two groups, cases significantly morefrequently than controls had experienced an infectious episodeor a skin wound In multivariate analysis, only infectious episodesand skin wounds significantly increased the risk of infectiveendocarditis. Scaling was the only independent risk factor forviridans streptococcal infective endocarditis. The 46% protectiveefficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Procedures do increase the risk of infective endocarditis. Theinterpretation of the apparent low risk associated with dentalprocedures may be as a result of the current practice of antibioticprophylaxis. Our data suggest that surgery should be more clearlymentioned in future guidelines, and reemphasize that a rigoroustreatment of any focal infection in cardiac patients is mandatory.From the efficacy rate of antibiotic prophylaxis, it can beestimated that the overall incidence of infective endocarditismight be reduced by 5 to 10% in France by appropriate use ofantibiotic prophylaxis in cardiac patients.     

心内膜垫缺损超声心动图与X线检查的对照分析

本文报道了２５例心内膜垫缺损的Ｘ线、心血管造影及超声心动图的对照分析，总结了３种方法各自的优缺点，并与手术结果进行了对照。     

右心室流出道间隔部起搏与右心室心尖部起搏随机对照研究

目的应用组织多普勒方法随机对照研究右心室流出道间隔部（right ventficular outflow tract septum,RVOTS）起搏与右心室心尖部（fight ventricul arapical,RVA）起搏心脏同步性和心功能变化,探讨右心室流出道间隔部在主理性起搏中的临床意义。方法128例缓慢心律失常患者按单双数字随机分为两组,对病态窦房结综合征房室功能正常患者,起搏器植入术后根据心电图PR间期时间将起搏器AV间期调整,暂时关闭AV搜索功能以保证心室起搏。所有患者起搏器植入术后1、3、6个月定期随访,观察起搏参数、累积心室起搏百分比,同时行超声心动图检查。结果RVOTS起搏组与RVA起搏组电极导线植入时间、X线曝光时间差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）,主动固定电极导线植入15min与植入即刻比较起搏阈值明显下降,分别为（0．76±0．21）mV和（1．13±0．25）mV（P〈0．01）。RVOTS起搏组和RVA起搏组QRS时限分别为（0．14±0．04）S、（0．16±0．03）S（P〈0．01）。随访6个月起搏参数两组之间差异无统计学意义。全部患者未出现植入并发症,随访6个月无电极导线移位、阈值增高。6个月RVOTS起搏组左心室同步指标明显优于RVA起搏组（P〈0．01）。左心室收缩末内径及舒张末内径两组比较无显著变化,左心室射血分数在RVA起搏组有所降低（P〈0．05）,心脏做功指数（Tei）、RVOTS起搏组与RVA起搏组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,在RVA起搏组随访6个月与1个月比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论RVA起搏导致心脏收缩不同步,损害左心室功能。RVOTS起搏保持良好心脏收缩同步性、保护左心室功能,是较好的右心室起搏部位。     

感染性心内膜炎应用人工瓣膜和自体瓣膜的病原菌及赘生物附着的临床分析

目的:研究感染性心内膜炎(IE)的临床特点及病原菌的变迁,比较人工瓣膜心内膜炎(PVE)及自体瓣膜心内膜炎(NVE)在致病微生物及赘生物附着部位方面的特点.方法:检索我院2003-05到2008-05符合Duke标准的266例住院治疗的IE患者,进行回顾性分析,并分为PVE(n=37)及NVE(n=229)两组进行比较.结果:91.4%(243/266)的IE患者存在基础心脏疾病,包括先天性心脏病101例,非风湿性瓣膜病77例,风湿性心脏病62例,肥厚型梗阻性心肌病3例.82.0%(218/266)发现赘生物,常见附着部位依次为主动脉瓣、二尖瓣、主动脉瓣合并二尖瓣.血培养阳性率49.5%(103/208).致病菌中革兰氏阴性杆菌及真菌呈增长趋势.PVE组常见致病菌依次为革兰氏阴性杆菌,葡萄球菌及真菌;NVE组为链球菌,葡萄球菌及革兰氏阴性杆菌.PVE组与NVE组相比赘生物检出率低(P<0.01),但血培养阳性率高(P<0.01).链球菌、凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌及革兰氏阴性杆菌,在两组培养致病菌间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).早期和晚期PVE细菌谱不同.PVE组的住院总病死率高于NVE组.结论:IE患者的疾病谱及致病菌与既往报道相比均有较明显改变,PVE与NVE常见致病菌及赘生物检出率不同,应及时行血培养及经食管超声心动图检查,根据药物敏感试验结果应用有效的抗生素,同时应积极预防医源性感染.     

Dose Dependency and Reversibility of Serotonin-Induced Valvular Heart Disease in Rats

Serotonergic drugs may lead to valvular heart disease in humans and more recently also in rats. Although clinical data suggest that dose dependency and reversibility after drug cessation might occur, proof of this is lacking. For that purpose, a total of 106 rats were prospectively enrolled: 22 control animals and 7 groups of 12 rats that received daily subcutaneous serotonin injections (5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 mg/kg respectively) for 12 weeks. At 12 weeks, half of the animals of each group were killed for histological analysis, whereas the remaining rats were further followed (without serotonin injections) for an additional 8 weeks. After 12 weeks of serotonin treatment, aortic and mitral regurgitation (AR, MR) were more frequently observed in the high dose groups (>30 mg/kg) compared to controls. Moreover, aortic and mitral valves were also thicker in the high dose groups compared to controls. After 8 weeks free of serotonin injections, AR and MR were no longer significantly higher than controls. Moreover, aortic and mitral valve thickness had normalized, returning to control levels. In conclusion, this study provides evidence for a dose-dependent valvular toxicity of serotonergic drugs, which appears to be reversible after drug withdrawal.     

Abdominal Obesity,Waist Circumference,Body Mass Index,and Echocardiographic Measures in Children and Adolescents

Background. Waist circumference (WC) may predict cardiovascular risk better than Body Mass Index (BMI) in adults. The relationships between WC and echocardiographic measurements known to predict adult cardiovascular risk have not yet been explored in children. Objective. This investigation sought to investigate whether WC predicts echocardiographic measures of cardiac structure and function and whether WC is a better predictor of these outcomes than BMI. If associations between WC and measures of diastolic function are found, are they due to increased left ventricular (LV) mass and whether WC and LV mass have synergistic or antagonistic effects on measures of diastolic function? Methods. A total of 49 clinically normal children aged 3–19 years, including 17 with abdominal obesity, underwent detailed echocardiographic assessment to explore the associations between WC and various indices of systolic and diastolic function. Correlations, t‐tests, and linear regressions were used for statistical testing. Results. Compared to subjects without abdominal obesity, those with abdominal obesity had increased left atrial dimensions, posterior wall thickness, and left ventricular (LV) mass index^2.7 (P < .05 for each comparison). Those with abdominal obesity also had altered LV filling patterns at the septal, lateral, and inferior wall by Doppler tissue imaging. WC was the sole predictor of, and was negatively associated with, the ratios of Early peak velocity/Late peak velocity at the septum, inferior wall, and right ventricle, and these associations were independent of LV mass (P < .001 for each comparison). Both BMI and WC were independent predictors of left ventricular mass index^2.7 (P= .001 and P= .05, respectively). Conclusions. Otherwise normal children and adolescents with abdominal obesity had altered left ventricular diastolic function. These differences were often better predicted by WC than by BMI. Our findings suggest the importance of considering WC in future studies of the cardiovascular impact of childhood obesity.     

Differential strain and velocity generation along the right ventricular free wall in pulmonary hypertension

BACKGROUND:

In contrast to the homogeneously distributed deformation properties within the left ventricle, the right ventricular (RV) free wall (RVFW) shows a more inhomogeneous distribution. It has been demonstrated that pulmonary hypertension (PH) results in significant RVFW mechanical delay.

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the effect of the degree of pulmonary arterial systolic pressure on the RVFW strain gradient and on myocardial velocity generation.

METHODS:

Peak longitudinal strain and velocity data were collected from three different segments (basal, mid- and apical) of the RVFW in 17 normal individuals and 31 PH patients.

RESULTS:

A total of 144 RV wall segments were analyzed. RVFW strain values in individuals without PH were higher in the mid and apical segments than in the basal segment. In contrast, RVFW strain in PH patients was higher in basal segments and diminished toward the apex. In terms of RVFW velocities, both groups showed decremental values from basal to apical segments. Basal and mid-RVFW velocities were significantly lower in PH patients than in individuals without PH.

CONCLUSIONS:

PH results in significant alterations of strain and velocity generation that occurs along the RVFW. Of these abnormalities, the reduction in strain from the mid and apical RVFW segments was most predictive of PH. It is important to be aware of these differences in strain generation when studying the effect of PH on the right ventricle. Additional studies are required to determine whether these differences are due to RV remodelling.     

抗心磷脂抗体与ST段抬高型心肌梗死PCI术后心脏扩大的相关性研究

目的探讨抗心磷脂抗体（ACLA）与ST段抬高型心肌梗死PCI术后心脏扩大及心功能不全的临床关系。方法145例ST段抬高型心肌梗死患者于发病1周行PCI手术,3个月后测定抗心磷脂抗体,复查超声心动图,检测左心房（LA）、左心室（LV）、射血分数（EF）、二尖瓣E峰峰值流速／二尖瓣A峰峰值流速（E／A）等值。结果AcLA—I蜘和ACLA—IgM水平,无心脏扩大心梗组为0．90±0．22和0．98±0．24,显著高于健康对照组的0．80±0．38和0．84±0．36（P〈0．05）;有心脏扩大心梗组为1．16±0．31和1．29±0．34,显著高于无心脏扩大心梗组（P〈0．05）。有心脏扩大心梗组AcLA阳性率为71．43％,显著高于无心脏扩大心梗组的40．45％（P〈0．05）。结论sT段抬高型心肌梗死PCI术后心脏扩大患者存在自身免疫机制,测定ACLA对预测sT段抬高型心肌梗死PCI术后心脏扩大以及心功能不全有一定的临床意义。     

右室流出道与右室心尖部起搏对心脏收缩功能和左室重构的影响

目的评价右室流出道(RVOT)和右室心尖部(RVA)起搏对心脏收缩同步性、收缩功能和左室重构的影响。方法82例高度或III度房室传导阻滞患者随机分为RVOT起搏组(A组,n=43)和RVA起搏组(B组,n=39),以术前左室12节段达峰时间标准差(Ts-SD)是否>32.6ms对两组患者进行亚组分组,Ts-SD>32.6ms者为A1亚组与B1亚组,Ts-SD≤32.6ms为A2亚组与B2亚组。于术前及术后6个月分别进行超声心动图检查,测量舒张末左室容积(LVEDV)、收缩末左室容积(LVESV)、左室射血分数(LVEF),并采集组织多普勒图像(TDI)进行脱机分析,测量主动脉瓣射血前时间(APET)、肺动脉瓣射血前时间(PPET)、左室12节段收缩达峰时间(Ts),计算室间电机械延迟(IVMD)和Ts-SD。结果术后6个月,两组的IVMD均较术前增加;两组Ts-SD与术前比无差异。亚组分析表明术前同步性好的A2、B2亚组术后Ts-SD升高;术前同步性差的A1亚组术后Ts-SD降低。术后6个月两组LVEDV、LVESV及LVEF与术前比较均无差异,组间比较亦无差异。结论RVOT和RVA起搏短期内对左室收缩功能及左室重构均无影响,术前收缩不同步者可从RVOT起搏中获益。