Transesophageal echocardiographic identification of a descending aortic aneurysm rupture into the left lung

This case report describes a patient in whom a descending aortic aneurysm ruptured into the left lung, producing hemoptysis. With transesophageal echocardiography, we were able to define the site and extent of the aneurysm, as well as the two sites of rupture into lung tissue.     

Prognosis of all-cause heart failure and borderline left ventricular systolic dysfunction: 5 year mortality follow-up of the Echocardiographic Heart of England Screening Study (ECHOES).

AIMS: Heart failure (HF) is reported to have an essentially malignant prognosis that can be modified by several interventions. Most outcome data on HF are available from randomized controlled treatment trials and longitudinal epidemiological studies. However, for a number of reasons, neither type of study have, to date, provided generalizable data on HF mortality. Furthermore, data on the prognosis of borderline left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) are even more limited. METHODS AND RESULTS: ECHOES (Echocardiographic Heart of England Screening Study) screened a total of 6,162 patients from a total of 10,161 invited (61% response rate). Patients were randomly selected from four pre-specified cohorts: the general population, diuretic users, those with a prior clinical label of HF, and a population with risk factors for HF, to identify the prevalence of HF and LVSD based on clinical assessment, ECG, and echocardiography. Causes of death during a 5-9 year follow-up period were recorded from routine mortality statistics. The 5-year survival rate of the general population was 93%, compared with 69% of those with LVSD without HF, 62% with HF and no LVSD, and 53% with HF plus LVSD. Survival improved significantly with increasing ejection fraction (EF) (log rank test for trend, chi(2) = 534.5, 1, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The ECHOES mortality data confirm the poor prognosis of patients suffering prevalent HF across the community with a mortality risk estimate of 9% per year. Borderline systolic dysfunction (EF 40-50%) on echocardiography carries a poor prognosis.     

心肌肌钙蛋白I在心脏移植术后恢复及排斥反应中的意义

目的对19例心脏移植受体术后早期及定期行心肌肌钙蛋白I(cardiactroponinI,cTnI)检测,探讨cTnI在心脏移植术后恢复及排斥反应中的作用。方法(1)对19例心脏移植受体术后1个月内每日行cTnI检测;(2)对存活的心脏移植受体每3个月或发现急性排斥反应时行cTnI检测。结果(1)19例心脏移植术后1个月内恢复顺利的患者其心肌cTnI的下降速度均较快,心脏移植后8天内均下降至10μg/L以下,20天内降至正常,而死亡5例患者中早期死亡的3例其cTnI在术后10天后仍维持在较高水平;(2)14例存活的心脏移植受体定期复查cTnI均正常,其中4例心肌活检病理确诊为Ⅱ级以上急性排斥反应患者,不论出现急性排斥反应的级别高低,其cTnI均未见升高。结论cTnI对心脏移植早期恢复评定具有重要意义,而与急性排斥反应无明显相关性。     

Multicystic aneurysmal dilatation of bilateral coronary artery fistula

Bilateral coronary artery fistula constitutes an uncommon subgroup of coronary artery fistulas that may have a distinct embryologic origin. Coronary artery fistulas usually show a tortuous arrangement upon coronary angiography, but aneurysmal dilatation is rare. We report here an extremely rare case of coronary artery fistula originating from both coronary arteries, which showed multicystic aneurysmal dilatation.     

SD大鼠生长发育期心脏结构及功能的超声心动图评价

目的应用高频超声仪动态观测SD雄性大鼠生长发育阶段心脏结构和功能变化规律，为发育期实验大鼠动物模型制备及功能评价提供依据。方法利用小动物超声仪连续观测SD雄性大鼠出生后1—9周左心室结构及功能的动态变化。结果（1）M超检测结果显示左室壁厚度及左室内径随生长发育而增加，超声评估左心室重量与解剖称重结果高度相关（r=0．9326，P〈0．0001）；（2）左室短轴缩短率（FS％）在发育期无显著变化；（3）脉冲多普勒测定舒张早期峰值血流速度（E峰）与舒张晚期峰值血流速度（A峰）之比（E／A）〉1，在发育过程中无显著性变化；（4）组织多普勒检测提示：左室后壁心肌的舒张早期（Em）、舒张晚期（Am）及收缩期（Sm）运动速度出生后1—6周逐渐增加，6周时达平台期。结论高频小动物超声仪经胸超声心动图所检测的心脏结构能准确地反映大鼠心脏生长发育变化趋势；心脏整体收缩及舒张功能在出生后1周即达稳定状态；组织多普勒检测左室后壁心肌纵轴运动在出生后逐渐成熟完善，于6周达到稳定状态。     

Rapidly growing mural thrombus in an abdominal aortic aneurysm

Summary While mural thrombus accompanied by an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is not rare, the growth rate of such a thrombus has not yet been adequately documented. We present here a very rare case of a 62-year-old female patient with an AAA in whom the mural thrombus in the aneurysm grew very rapidly over a short period. We could follow the growth of the mural thrombus in the AAA by two-dimensional (2-D) abdominal echography. Patients with an AAA must be closely monitored by this technique which is able to detect the presence of the thrombus and allow evaluation of its growth.     

冠心病慢性充血性心功能衰竭患者心率变异性及其昼夜节律变化

目的探讨冠心病慢性充血性心功能衰竭患者心率变异性及其昼夜节律的变化,以及自主神经功能损害与心功能的关系.方法用24 h动态心电图分析52例冠心病慢性充血性心功能衰竭患者(心功能衰竭组),33例冠心病心功能代偿期患者(心功能代偿组),23例健康体检者(对照组)的心率变异性时域指标和频域指标.比较三组间心率变异性时域指标的变化和慢性充血性心功能衰竭患者心率变异性昼夜频域指标变化;分析此类患者心率变异性时域指标变化与美国纽约心脏协会心功能分级的关系.结果冠心病心功能代偿组24 h心率变异性时域指标窦性心律R-R间期标准差、5 min窦性R-R间期平均值标准差和5 min窦性R-R标准差平均值较对照组显著下降(P<0.05),相邻R-R间期之差的均方根值、相邻R-R间期差值>50 ms的个数除以整R-R间期的个数的百分比和三角指数与对照组无显著差别(P>0.05);冠心病慢性充血性心功能衰竭组的各时域指标均显著低于对照组(均P<0.01),也低于心功能代偿组(均P<0.05),且昼夜频域指标变化无差异;将冠心病慢性充血性心功能衰竭组分为心功能Ⅱ级组(n=32)和心功能≥Ⅲ级(n=20)两个亚组,结果发现心功能≥Ⅲ级组心率变异性各时域指标明显低于心功能Ⅱ级组(P<0.05).结论冠心病患者可能在心功能代偿期自主神经平衡就已受到损害,当出现慢性充血性心功能衰竭时交感活性增强,迷走张力进一步下降,自主神经调节昼夜节律功能丧失,心率变异性指标的下降与心功能损害程度相关,因此心率变异性指标可作为评价慢性充血性心功能衰竭预后指标之一.     

Favourable effects of heart rate reduction with intravenous administration of ivabradine in patients with advanced heart failure

BACKGROUND: Heart rate (HR) reduction may be useful in treatment of patients with heart failure (HF). There are no data on the haemodynamic effects of ivabradine (a selective I(f) current inhibitor) in advanced HF patients. AIMS: To assess the haemodynamic effects of ivabradine in patients with advanced HF and markedly depressed left ventricular (LV) function. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ten NYHA class III patients (50+/-12 years, LV ejection fraction 21+/-7%) underwent 24-h haemodynamic monitoring. Ivabradine 0.1 mg/kg was infused over 90', followed by 0.05-0.075 mg/kg in the subsequent 90'. Baseline HR was 93+/-8 bpm, cardiac index (CI) 2.2+/-0.6 l/min*m2; LV stroke volume 44+/-11 ml and systolic work 39+/-13 g. Ivabradine significantly reduced HR, by a maximum of 27% (to 68+/-9 bpm) at 4 h, without decreasing CI. Ivabradine increased stroke volume and LV systolic work by a maximum of 51% (to 66+/-17 ml) and 53% (to 58+/-20 g) at 4 h. No serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSION: In patients with advanced HF and markedly depressed LV function, the acute administration of ivabradine is well tolerated, effectively reduces HR, markedly increases stroke volume and preserves cardiac output. Ivabradine appears a promising approach for the treatment of patients with moderate and advanced heart failure.     

硬脑膜动静脉瘘分型与治疗方法的关系

目的：探讨硬脑膜动静脉瘘分型与治疗方法的关系。方法：对28例硬脑膜动静脉瘘患者行全脑血管造影；DSA采集速度4～8帧／s，依据Cognard分型分别采用压迫颈动脉(2例)、动脉入路栓塞(8例)、栓塞 手术(10例)及手术(8例)的治疗方法。结果：有10例治愈，12例症状明显改善。4例症状缓解，1例无改善，1例加重。结论：硬脑膜动静脉瘘的治疗比较困难，术前仔细研究病变的血流动力学特点，正确采取不同的方法常能取得较好的疗效。治疗方法的选择与瘘口的位置、供血动脉数量以及静脉引流方式等有关。