AIM:To understand the current situation of parental perspectives,knowledge,and practices concerning myopia prevention and control for both pre-and school-aged children.METHODS:This study was a cross-sectional survey t...AIM:To understand the current situation of parental perspectives,knowledge,and practices concerning myopia prevention and control for both pre-and school-aged children.METHODS:This study was a cross-sectional survey that involved children aged 0 to 15y and their parents.Participants were required to respond to an online questionnaire by scanning a quick response(QR)code.The questionnaire consisted of 25 tick-box questions and was open to response from December 22,2022,to January 5,2023.The dioptric traits of the children,the visual status and educational background of the parents,the parental perspectives towards myopia and its risks,and the parents’knowledge and practices related to myopia prevention and control were recorded and measured.The Chi-square test and binomial logistic regression were used for statistics.RESULTS:Totally 350 parents responded to the questionnaire.The prevalence and severity of myopia among the surveyed children exhibited a positive correlation with advancing age(P<0.001 and P=0.004,respectively).Nearly half of parents with myopic children considered myopia did not pose any health threat and could be effectively corrected(P<0.001).Parents who held master’s or doctoral degree demonstrated a better understanding of children’s vision standards for each age group(P=0.001),and 31.63% of them could undergo initial vision screening for their children during the age of 0 to 3y while parents with bachelor’s degree(34.04%)and below(32.43%)mainly initiated the vision examination for their children at the age of 4 to 6y(P=0.05).Parents with master’s or doctoral degree also exhibited more rational practices concerning outdoor time(P=0.048)and sleep time(P=0.044).No other significant discrepancy among the different educational groups in additional conceptions of myopia,such as hyperopia reserve,axis length,and corneal curvature alterations.Most parents preferred to employ conventional interventions,such as enhancing indoor lighting condition(80.00%)and ensuring appropriate reading posture and distance(71.71%).CONCLUSION:The current status of parental knowledge and practices about myopia prevention and control remains outdated and deficient.The administrative department should implement efficacious and adaptable measures to enhance parental awareness and foster their commitment towards myopia prevention and control.展开更多
Pre-and post-selected(PPS) measurement, especially the weak PPS measurement, has been proved to be a useful tool for measuring extremely tiny physical parameters. However, it is difficult to retain both the attainable...Pre-and post-selected(PPS) measurement, especially the weak PPS measurement, has been proved to be a useful tool for measuring extremely tiny physical parameters. However, it is difficult to retain both the attainable highest measurement sensitivity and precision with the increase of the parameter to be measured. Here, a modulated PPS measurement scheme based on coupling-strength-dependent modulation is presented with the highest sensitivity and precision retained for an arbitrary coupling strength. This idea is demonstrated by comparing the modulated PPS measurement scheme with the standard PPS measurement scheme in the case of unbalanced input meter. By using the Fisher information metric, we derive the optimal pre-and post-selected states, as well as the optimal coupling-strength-dependent modulation without any restriction on the coupling strength. We also give the specific strategy of performing the modulated PPS measurement scheme, which may promote practical application of this scheme in precision metrology.展开更多
Objective: To describe the MRI findings and discuss the pathogenesis formation mechanism of syringomyelia in the patients after spine surgical operation. Methods: Totally 13 patients were been enrolled in the study....Objective: To describe the MRI findings and discuss the pathogenesis formation mechanism of syringomyelia in the patients after spine surgical operation. Methods: Totally 13 patients were been enrolled in the study. Before operation, none of our patients presented with spinal cord syringomyelia. The mean follow-up duration was 6 years (range 2-10 months) by MRI. Four of the 13 patients after spinal cord tumor removed operation, 3 patients after spinal trauma operation, 2 cases had scoliosis before, 2 cases were cervical spondylotic myelopathy and 2 cases had tethered cord syndrome before operation. MR features of pre- and post-operation on all patients were been studied in contrast with surgical results and clinical symptoms. The radiology diagnostic was made by 3 different radiologists respectively. The characteristics of length, width, signals, shape of cavity and spinal cord position as well as subarachnoid shape were focused on. Results: All the patients had no syringomyelia on MRI before operation. The spinal cord of 7 patients showed persist compression and 2 patients had tethered cord before operation. MRI features of syringomyelia after operation in our cases showed longitudinal cavity with syrinx fluid had T1 and T2 relation characteristics of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The mean length was 5.5 spinal segment, 4 cord of 13 patients presented cord compressed from anterior materials, 4 occurred postoperative adhesion to the back of lumbar spinal canal and spinal cord of 1 cases clung to the front wall of cervical spinal canal. Conclusion: The mechanism of syringomyelia in the patients after spinal surgical intervention may be the persisting compression or intention of the spinal cord in the period of pre- or post-operation. The edema, cyst, malacia of spinal cord are the most important lesions and risk factors resulted in the syringomyelia.展开更多
Groundwater accounts for about half of the water use for irrigation in India.The fluctuation pattern of the groundwater level is examined by observing rainfall replenishment and monitoring wells.The southern part of R...Groundwater accounts for about half of the water use for irrigation in India.The fluctuation pattern of the groundwater level is examined by observing rainfall replenishment and monitoring wells.The southern part of Rajasthan has experienced abrupt changes in rainfall and has been highly dependent on groundwater over decades.This study presents the impact of over-dependence on groundwater usage for irrigation and other purposes,spatially and temporally.Hence,the objective of this study is to examine the groundwater level trend by using statistical analysis and geospatial technique.Rainfall factor was also studied in groundwater level fluctuation during 2009-2019.To analyze the influence of each well during recharge or withdrawal of groundwater,thiessien polygonswere generated from them.In the Jakham River basin,75 wells have been identified for water level trend study using the Mann-Kendall statistical test.The statistics of trend analysis show that 15%wells are experiencing water level decline in pre-monsoon,while very low percentage of wells have such trend during post-monsoon season.The average rate of water level decline is 0.245 m/a in pre-monsoon and 0.05 m/a in post-monsoon.The aquifer recharge potential is also decreasing by year.it is expected that such type of studies will help the policy makers to adopt advanced management practices to ensure sustainable groundwater resource management.展开更多
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is a crucial public health issue that has been increasingly studied in efforts to reduce symptoms or prevent its occurrence. However, effective advances remain lacking. Hyperbaric o...Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is a crucial public health issue that has been increasingly studied in efforts to reduce symptoms or prevent its occurrence. However, effective advances remain lacking. Hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning has proved to protect vital organs, such as the heart, liver, and brain. Recently, it has been introduced and widely studied in the prevention of postoperative cognitive dysfunction, with promising results. However, the neuroprotective mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain controversial. This review summarizes and highlights the definition and application of hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning, the perniciousness and pathogenetic mechanism underlying postoperative cognitive dysfunction, and the effects that hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning has on postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Finally, we conclude that hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning is an effective and feasible method to prevent, alleviate, and improve postoperative cognitive dysfunction, and that its mechanism of action is very complex, involving the stimulation of endogenous antioxidant and anti-inflammation defense systems.展开更多
This paper develops a model for analyzing the potential of longer and heavier vehicles (LHVs) related to pre- and post-haulage in the intermodal rail-road transport chain (IRT). The paper considers the combined econom...This paper develops a model for analyzing the potential of longer and heavier vehicles (LHVs) related to pre- and post-haulage in the intermodal rail-road transport chain (IRT). The paper considers the combined economic and emission costs among three different transport networks including intermodal rail-road transport with current Swedish regulatory framework for trucks, intermodal rail-road transport with LHVs, and direct-road transport. The objective is to analyse the potential of high-capacity transport associated with pre- and post-haulage for enhancing the competitiveness of intermodal transport from a full-costs perspective. The model developed is applied to a Swedish context and case study. Research findings reveal that the break-even of the IRT compared to the direct road transport could be significantly lowered, which suggests the LHVs contribute to exploring the market of IRT over smaller flows.展开更多
Objective The aim of the study was to probe into the impacts of the times of preventive transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) after operation treatment for patients with primary liver cancer on their survival.
Analyzing and discussing advantages of3D laparoscopic surgery in postoperative recovery Method: Selecting patients were treated by 2D laparoscopic surgery or 3D laparoscopic,surgery in our hospital from January 2015...Analyzing and discussing advantages of3D laparoscopic surgery in postoperative recovery Method: Selecting patients were treated by 2D laparoscopic surgery or 3D laparoscopic,surgery in our hospital from January 2015 to January 2016 as research subjects. According to different methods, we separate patients into two groups, and each group is 150 patients. The one is test group (3D laparoscopic surgery), and the other is control group(2D laparoscopic surgery). Observing two groups for some factors, such as probability of surgical injury, post-operative exhaust time, catheterization time, time of drainage tube placement and hospital time. Result: The magnification of3D laparoscopy image is significantly better than 2D laparoscopy. Error damage fraction of test group(2. 00%) is lower than control group (28.00%), which effectively reduces the probability of total surgical errors and provides more accurate operation. At the same time, exhaust time, catheterization time, time of drainage tube placement and hospital time of test group are significantly lower than the control group, statistically significant (p〈0.05). Conclusion: 3D laparoscopic surgery has characterizations of easy operation, small window, fast recovery and small probability of complications occurrence. The HD vision is widen to improve the level of minimally invasive surgery and it is worthy of clinical application.展开更多
Objective:The Pulmonary Arterial Denervation in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension Associated With the Left Heart Failure(PADN-5)study proved that pulmonary artery denervation(PADN)is associated with significant imp...Objective:The Pulmonary Arterial Denervation in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension Associated With the Left Heart Failure(PADN-5)study proved that pulmonary artery denervation(PADN)is associated with significant improvements in hemodynamic and clinical outcomes in patients with combined pre-and post-capillary pulmonary hypertension(CpcPH).This study aimed to assess the 3-year clinical results of PADN in patients who had heart failure with preserved ejection fraction(HFpEF)developing into CpcPH(HFpEF-CpcPH).Methods:In this post hoc analysis of the PADN-5 trial,38 patients with HFpEF were included in screening out of 98 patients with CpcPH who were randomly assigned to treatment with sildenafil and sham PADN(sham PADN(plus sildenafil)group,abbreviated as sham group)or PADN(PADN group).HFpEF in the PADN-5 trial was defined as a left ventricular ejection fraction≥50%,and CpcPH was defined as a mean pulmonary arterial pressure≥25 mmHg,a pulmonary arterial wedge pressure>15 mmHg,and a pulmonary vascular resistance>3.0 WU.The changes in the 6-minute walk distance(6-MWD)and the plasma concentration of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)at 6-month and 3-year follow-up,as well as the clinical endpoint of the occurrence of clinical worsening,defined as cardiopulmonary-related death,rehospitalization,or heart or lung transplantation at 3-year follow-up were examined.Results:Thirty-eight patients with HFpEF-CpcPH were assigned to the PADN group(n=19)or the sham group(n=19).At the 6-month follow-up,6-MWD(433(275,580)m vs.342(161,552)m),and reductions in NT-proBNP(−47%(−99%,331%)vs.−12%(−82%,54%))were significantly improved in the PADN group(all P<0.05).Over the 3-year follow-up period,PADN treatment resulted in marked increases in 6-MWD(450(186,510)m vs.348(135,435)m)and reductions in NT-proBNP(−55%(−99%,38%)vs.−10%(−80%,95%))(all P<0.05).Clinical worsening was experienced by 12 patients(63%)in the sham group,but by only 5 patients(26%)in the PADN group(hazard ratio=0.149,95%confidence interval:0.038–0.584,P=0.006).The 6-MWD and PADN treatments were independent predictors of clinical deterioration in patients with HFpEF-CpcPH.Conclusions:PADN therapy is associated with improvements in exercise capacity and clinical outcomes.PADN therapy may have a potential role in patients with HFpEF-CpcPH for whom current treatment options are limited.展开更多
Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) was performed in 33 consecutive patients with both rheumatic mitral stenosis and chronic atrial fibrillation to evaluate tfae usefulness of this technique for the detection of left...Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) was performed in 33 consecutive patients with both rheumatic mitral stenosis and chronic atrial fibrillation to evaluate tfae usefulness of this technique for the detection of left atrial thrombi, mitral regurgitation before percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty and iatrogenic atrial septal defect after the procedure. TEE correctly identified thrombi in 10 (30%) patients and significant mitral regurgitation in 5 patients who underwent surgical intervention. The remaining 18 patients underwent percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty without evidence of systemic embolic event and obtained adequate outcome. Transesophageal color doppler echocardiography demostrated left-o-ight shunting flow through atrial septum in 5 of 7(71%) patients 3 days after the procedure and repeated TEE in 2 of these 5 patients showed no shunting after 6 months. In conclusion, TEE plays a definite role in the selection of patients for balloon mitral valvuloplasty and assessment of iatrogenic atrial septal defect.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82205196).
文摘AIM:To understand the current situation of parental perspectives,knowledge,and practices concerning myopia prevention and control for both pre-and school-aged children.METHODS:This study was a cross-sectional survey that involved children aged 0 to 15y and their parents.Participants were required to respond to an online questionnaire by scanning a quick response(QR)code.The questionnaire consisted of 25 tick-box questions and was open to response from December 22,2022,to January 5,2023.The dioptric traits of the children,the visual status and educational background of the parents,the parental perspectives towards myopia and its risks,and the parents’knowledge and practices related to myopia prevention and control were recorded and measured.The Chi-square test and binomial logistic regression were used for statistics.RESULTS:Totally 350 parents responded to the questionnaire.The prevalence and severity of myopia among the surveyed children exhibited a positive correlation with advancing age(P<0.001 and P=0.004,respectively).Nearly half of parents with myopic children considered myopia did not pose any health threat and could be effectively corrected(P<0.001).Parents who held master’s or doctoral degree demonstrated a better understanding of children’s vision standards for each age group(P=0.001),and 31.63% of them could undergo initial vision screening for their children during the age of 0 to 3y while parents with bachelor’s degree(34.04%)and below(32.43%)mainly initiated the vision examination for their children at the age of 4 to 6y(P=0.05).Parents with master’s or doctoral degree also exhibited more rational practices concerning outdoor time(P=0.048)and sleep time(P=0.044).No other significant discrepancy among the different educational groups in additional conceptions of myopia,such as hyperopia reserve,axis length,and corneal curvature alterations.Most parents preferred to employ conventional interventions,such as enhancing indoor lighting condition(80.00%)and ensuring appropriate reading posture and distance(71.71%).CONCLUSION:The current status of parental knowledge and practices about myopia prevention and control remains outdated and deficient.The administrative department should implement efficacious and adaptable measures to enhance parental awareness and foster their commitment towards myopia prevention and control.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11674234 and 11605205)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China(Grant No.2012017yjsy143)+4 种基金the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2017YFA0305200)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS)(Grant No.2015317)the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing,China(Grant Nos.cstc2015jcyjA00021 and cstc2018jcyjAX0656)the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Support Program for Chongqing Overseas Returnees,China(Grant No.cx017134)the Fund of CAS Key Laboratory of Microscale Magnetic Resonance,China,and the Fund of CAS Key Laboratory of Quantum Information,China
文摘Pre-and post-selected(PPS) measurement, especially the weak PPS measurement, has been proved to be a useful tool for measuring extremely tiny physical parameters. However, it is difficult to retain both the attainable highest measurement sensitivity and precision with the increase of the parameter to be measured. Here, a modulated PPS measurement scheme based on coupling-strength-dependent modulation is presented with the highest sensitivity and precision retained for an arbitrary coupling strength. This idea is demonstrated by comparing the modulated PPS measurement scheme with the standard PPS measurement scheme in the case of unbalanced input meter. By using the Fisher information metric, we derive the optimal pre-and post-selected states, as well as the optimal coupling-strength-dependent modulation without any restriction on the coupling strength. We also give the specific strategy of performing the modulated PPS measurement scheme, which may promote practical application of this scheme in precision metrology.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30300359)
文摘Objective: To describe the MRI findings and discuss the pathogenesis formation mechanism of syringomyelia in the patients after spine surgical operation. Methods: Totally 13 patients were been enrolled in the study. Before operation, none of our patients presented with spinal cord syringomyelia. The mean follow-up duration was 6 years (range 2-10 months) by MRI. Four of the 13 patients after spinal cord tumor removed operation, 3 patients after spinal trauma operation, 2 cases had scoliosis before, 2 cases were cervical spondylotic myelopathy and 2 cases had tethered cord syndrome before operation. MR features of pre- and post-operation on all patients were been studied in contrast with surgical results and clinical symptoms. The radiology diagnostic was made by 3 different radiologists respectively. The characteristics of length, width, signals, shape of cavity and spinal cord position as well as subarachnoid shape were focused on. Results: All the patients had no syringomyelia on MRI before operation. The spinal cord of 7 patients showed persist compression and 2 patients had tethered cord before operation. MRI features of syringomyelia after operation in our cases showed longitudinal cavity with syrinx fluid had T1 and T2 relation characteristics of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The mean length was 5.5 spinal segment, 4 cord of 13 patients presented cord compressed from anterior materials, 4 occurred postoperative adhesion to the back of lumbar spinal canal and spinal cord of 1 cases clung to the front wall of cervical spinal canal. Conclusion: The mechanism of syringomyelia in the patients after spinal surgical intervention may be the persisting compression or intention of the spinal cord in the period of pre- or post-operation. The edema, cyst, malacia of spinal cord are the most important lesions and risk factors resulted in the syringomyelia.
文摘Groundwater accounts for about half of the water use for irrigation in India.The fluctuation pattern of the groundwater level is examined by observing rainfall replenishment and monitoring wells.The southern part of Rajasthan has experienced abrupt changes in rainfall and has been highly dependent on groundwater over decades.This study presents the impact of over-dependence on groundwater usage for irrigation and other purposes,spatially and temporally.Hence,the objective of this study is to examine the groundwater level trend by using statistical analysis and geospatial technique.Rainfall factor was also studied in groundwater level fluctuation during 2009-2019.To analyze the influence of each well during recharge or withdrawal of groundwater,thiessien polygonswere generated from them.In the Jakham River basin,75 wells have been identified for water level trend study using the Mann-Kendall statistical test.The statistics of trend analysis show that 15%wells are experiencing water level decline in pre-monsoon,while very low percentage of wells have such trend during post-monsoon season.The average rate of water level decline is 0.245 m/a in pre-monsoon and 0.05 m/a in post-monsoon.The aquifer recharge potential is also decreasing by year.it is expected that such type of studies will help the policy makers to adopt advanced management practices to ensure sustainable groundwater resource management.
基金supported by the Special Research Foundation of Doctoral Course in Colleges and Universities of China in 2013,No.20133420110009
文摘Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is a crucial public health issue that has been increasingly studied in efforts to reduce symptoms or prevent its occurrence. However, effective advances remain lacking. Hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning has proved to protect vital organs, such as the heart, liver, and brain. Recently, it has been introduced and widely studied in the prevention of postoperative cognitive dysfunction, with promising results. However, the neuroprotective mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain controversial. This review summarizes and highlights the definition and application of hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning, the perniciousness and pathogenetic mechanism underlying postoperative cognitive dysfunction, and the effects that hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning has on postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Finally, we conclude that hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning is an effective and feasible method to prevent, alleviate, and improve postoperative cognitive dysfunction, and that its mechanism of action is very complex, involving the stimulation of endogenous antioxidant and anti-inflammation defense systems.
文摘This paper develops a model for analyzing the potential of longer and heavier vehicles (LHVs) related to pre- and post-haulage in the intermodal rail-road transport chain (IRT). The paper considers the combined economic and emission costs among three different transport networks including intermodal rail-road transport with current Swedish regulatory framework for trucks, intermodal rail-road transport with LHVs, and direct-road transport. The objective is to analyse the potential of high-capacity transport associated with pre- and post-haulage for enhancing the competitiveness of intermodal transport from a full-costs perspective. The model developed is applied to a Swedish context and case study. Research findings reveal that the break-even of the IRT compared to the direct road transport could be significantly lowered, which suggests the LHVs contribute to exploring the market of IRT over smaller flows.
文摘Objective The aim of the study was to probe into the impacts of the times of preventive transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) after operation treatment for patients with primary liver cancer on their survival.
文摘Analyzing and discussing advantages of3D laparoscopic surgery in postoperative recovery Method: Selecting patients were treated by 2D laparoscopic surgery or 3D laparoscopic,surgery in our hospital from January 2015 to January 2016 as research subjects. According to different methods, we separate patients into two groups, and each group is 150 patients. The one is test group (3D laparoscopic surgery), and the other is control group(2D laparoscopic surgery). Observing two groups for some factors, such as probability of surgical injury, post-operative exhaust time, catheterization time, time of drainage tube placement and hospital time. Result: The magnification of3D laparoscopy image is significantly better than 2D laparoscopy. Error damage fraction of test group(2. 00%) is lower than control group (28.00%), which effectively reduces the probability of total surgical errors and provides more accurate operation. At the same time, exhaust time, catheterization time, time of drainage tube placement and hospital time of test group are significantly lower than the control group, statistically significant (p〈0.05). Conclusion: 3D laparoscopic surgery has characterizations of easy operation, small window, fast recovery and small probability of complications occurrence. The HD vision is widen to improve the level of minimally invasive surgery and it is worthy of clinical application.
基金supported by the National Scientific Foundation of China(82100438,82270436,and 82121001).
文摘Objective:The Pulmonary Arterial Denervation in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension Associated With the Left Heart Failure(PADN-5)study proved that pulmonary artery denervation(PADN)is associated with significant improvements in hemodynamic and clinical outcomes in patients with combined pre-and post-capillary pulmonary hypertension(CpcPH).This study aimed to assess the 3-year clinical results of PADN in patients who had heart failure with preserved ejection fraction(HFpEF)developing into CpcPH(HFpEF-CpcPH).Methods:In this post hoc analysis of the PADN-5 trial,38 patients with HFpEF were included in screening out of 98 patients with CpcPH who were randomly assigned to treatment with sildenafil and sham PADN(sham PADN(plus sildenafil)group,abbreviated as sham group)or PADN(PADN group).HFpEF in the PADN-5 trial was defined as a left ventricular ejection fraction≥50%,and CpcPH was defined as a mean pulmonary arterial pressure≥25 mmHg,a pulmonary arterial wedge pressure>15 mmHg,and a pulmonary vascular resistance>3.0 WU.The changes in the 6-minute walk distance(6-MWD)and the plasma concentration of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)at 6-month and 3-year follow-up,as well as the clinical endpoint of the occurrence of clinical worsening,defined as cardiopulmonary-related death,rehospitalization,or heart or lung transplantation at 3-year follow-up were examined.Results:Thirty-eight patients with HFpEF-CpcPH were assigned to the PADN group(n=19)or the sham group(n=19).At the 6-month follow-up,6-MWD(433(275,580)m vs.342(161,552)m),and reductions in NT-proBNP(−47%(−99%,331%)vs.−12%(−82%,54%))were significantly improved in the PADN group(all P<0.05).Over the 3-year follow-up period,PADN treatment resulted in marked increases in 6-MWD(450(186,510)m vs.348(135,435)m)and reductions in NT-proBNP(−55%(−99%,38%)vs.−10%(−80%,95%))(all P<0.05).Clinical worsening was experienced by 12 patients(63%)in the sham group,but by only 5 patients(26%)in the PADN group(hazard ratio=0.149,95%confidence interval:0.038–0.584,P=0.006).The 6-MWD and PADN treatments were independent predictors of clinical deterioration in patients with HFpEF-CpcPH.Conclusions:PADN therapy is associated with improvements in exercise capacity and clinical outcomes.PADN therapy may have a potential role in patients with HFpEF-CpcPH for whom current treatment options are limited.
文摘Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) was performed in 33 consecutive patients with both rheumatic mitral stenosis and chronic atrial fibrillation to evaluate tfae usefulness of this technique for the detection of left atrial thrombi, mitral regurgitation before percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty and iatrogenic atrial septal defect after the procedure. TEE correctly identified thrombi in 10 (30%) patients and significant mitral regurgitation in 5 patients who underwent surgical intervention. The remaining 18 patients underwent percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty without evidence of systemic embolic event and obtained adequate outcome. Transesophageal color doppler echocardiography demostrated left-o-ight shunting flow through atrial septum in 5 of 7(71%) patients 3 days after the procedure and repeated TEE in 2 of these 5 patients showed no shunting after 6 months. In conclusion, TEE plays a definite role in the selection of patients for balloon mitral valvuloplasty and assessment of iatrogenic atrial septal defect.