Prognostic value of the echocardiographic right/left ventricular end-diastolic diameter ratio in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension

Background Previous studies have shown that an echocardiographic right/left ventricular end-diastolic diameter ratio(RV/LV ratio)≥0.9 is an independent predictor of poor prognosis in patients with acute pulmonary embolism. The prognostic value of the RV/LV ratio in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension(IPAH) is still unknown. Methods We retrospectively enrolled 95 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed IPAH and 16 of them were reevaluated by echocardiography at 3-12 months following targeted therapy.Follow-up data were obtained by telephone interviews and review of the patients’ records.Results The RV/LV ratio was in parallel with the severity of World Health Orgnization(WHO) functional class and mean right atrial pressure.The RV/LV ratio was positively correlated with total pulmonary resistance(P P P 2 saturation(P P = 0.001),weight and absence of targeted therapy were independent predictors of death.No significant changes in the RV/LV ratio before and after targeted therapy were observed. A baseline RV/LV ratio≥0.84 or a further increase in the RV/LV ratio during targeted therapy indicated a poor prognosis. Conclusions The RV/LV ratio helps to assess the severity of IPAH and serves as an independent predictor of prognosis in patients with IPAH.

Effect of rheumatic mitral stenosis on end-diastolic volume of left ventricle

Objective To investigate the relations between the pathological contraction of the valve and sub-valvular apparatus in rheumatic mitral stenosis and end-diastolic volume of left ventricle. Method From 1990-2004, 90 patients with only moderate or severe rheumatic mitral stenosis （mitral group）, and 24 patients with combined moderate or severe rheumatic mitral stenosis and significant aortic regurgitation （ combined valves group）, diagnostically confirmed by surgery and pathology, were measured using echocardiaogram the end-diastolic volume and diameter, stroke volume and ejection fraction of left ventricle. Result Compared with mitral group combined valves group showed slight increases of end-diastolic volume and diameter （116.49 ± 37.93 ml and 136.72±70.67 ml, respectively; 49.34 ± 6.71 mm and 51.08 ± 8.32 mm, respectively; both P 〈 0.05）, and slight decreases of ejection fraction, but significant increases of stroke volume （71.37 ± 25.01 ml and 91.06 ± 36.67 ml, respectively; P〈0.05） of left ventricle. Conclusion The pathological shortening of mitral valve and sub-valvular apparatus caused by long-term rheumatic disease is the main cause of decreased left ventricular volume in mitral stenosis.

Interaction between the left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular strain and its relationship with coronary stenosis

BACKGROUND Coronary artery stenosis(CAS)is the most common type of heart disease and the leading cause of death in both men and women globally.CAS occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle harden and become narrower due to plaque buildup-cholesterol and other material-on their inner walls.As a result,the heart muscle cannot receive the blood or oxygen it needs.Most heart attacks happen when a blood clot suddenly cuts off the hearts'blood supply,causing permanent heart damage.AIM To analyze the relationship between the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricular strain(LVS),and coronary stenosis.METHODS A total of 190 participants were enrolled in this trail.The control group comprised 93 healthy individuals,and observation group comprised 97 patients with coronary heart disease who were hospitalized between July 2020 and September 2021.Coronary lesions were assessed using the Gensini score,and the LVEF and LVS were measured using magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).The interaction between the LVEF and LVS was examined using a linear regression model.The relationship between LVEF and coronary stenosis was examined using Spearman’s correlation.RESULTS The LVEF of the observation group was lower than that of the control group.The left ventricular end-systolic volume(LVESV)and left ventricular end-diastolic volume(LVEDV)of the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group(P<0.05).The longitudinal and circumferential strains(LS,CS)of the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group;however,the radial strain(RS)of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group(P<0.05).LVS,LS,and CS were significantly negatively correlated with the LVEF,and RS was positively correlated with the LVEF.There were significant differences in the LVEF,LVESV,and LVEDV of patients with different Gensini scores;the LVEF significantly decreased and the LVESV and LVEDV increased with increasing Gensini scores(P<0.05).In the observation group,the LVEF was negatively correlated and the LVESV and LVEDV were positively correlated with coronary stenosis(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The LVEF measured using MRI is significantly linearly correlated with LVS and negatively correlated with coronary stenosis.

Ultrasonographic assessment of cardiac function and disease severity in coronary heart disease

BACKGROUND Coronary heart disease(CHD)causes many adverse cardiovascular events and poses a threat to the patient’s health and quality of life.AIM To evaluate ultrasonography for evaluation of cardiac function and lesion degree in patients with CHD.METHODS A total of 106 patients with CHD(study group)and 106 healthy individuals(control group)in our hospital from March 2019 to September 2020 were selected for this study.All subjects were examined by ultrasound,and the mitral orifice’s early-to-late diastolic blood flow velocity ratio(E/A),left ventricular end-diastolic volume(LVDd),and left atrial diameter(LAD)were measured.Values were compared between the study group and healthy group,and the correlation between the ultrasonic parameters of patients with different cardiac function grades and the degree of CHD were assessed.In addition,the ultrasonic parameters of patients with different prognoses were compared after a follow-up for 6 mo.RESULTS E/A(1.46±0.34)of the study group was smaller than that of the control group(1.88±0.44),while LVDd(58.24±5.05 mm)and LAD(43.31±4.38 mm)were larger(48.15±3.93 and 34.94±2.81,respectively;P<0.05).E/A for patients with grade III disease(1.41±0.43)was smaller and their LVDd(60.04±4.21 mm)and LA(44.16±2.79 mm)were larger than those in patients with grade II disease(1.71±0.48,52.18±3.67 mm,and 39.68±2.37,respectively;P<0.05).Patients with grade IV disease had smaller E/A(1.08±0.39)and larger LVDd(66.81±5.39 mm)and LAD(48.81±3.95 mm)than patients with grade II and III disease(P<0.05).In patients with moderate disease,E/A(1.44±0.41)was smaller and LVDd(59.95±4.14 mm)and LAD(45.15±2.97 mm)were larger than in patients with mild disease(1.69±0.50,51.97±3.88 and 38.81±2.56 mm,respectively;P<0.05).In patients with severe disease,E/A(1.13±0.36)was smaller and LVDd(67.70±6.11 mm)and LAD(49.09±4.05 mm)were larger than in patients with moderate disease(P<0.05).E/A was negatively correlated with cardiac function classi-fication and disease severity,while LVDd and LAD were positively correlated with cardiac function classification and disease severity(P<0.05).E/A(1.83±0.51)for patients with good prognosis was higher than that for those with poor prognosis(1.39±0.32),while LVDd(49.60±4.39 mm)and LAD(36.13±3.05 mm)were lower(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The ultrasonic parameters of patients with CHD are abnormal,and differ significantly in patients with different cardiac function grades,lesion degree,and prognosis.

不同剂量左旋肉毒碱对难治性继发性甲状旁腺功能亢进患者心功能的影响

目的观察不同剂量左旋肉毒碱对难治性继发性甲状旁腺功能亢进(R-SHPT)患者心功能的影响。方法选取2013—2016年在航天中心医院就诊拟行甲状旁腺切除术(PTX)治疗的R-SHPT患者43例,采用随机数字表法将患者分为左旋肉毒碱大剂量治疗组(高剂量组,n=22),左旋肉毒碱常规剂量治疗组(常规剂量组,n=21)。高剂量组给予左旋肉毒碱2 g加入0.9%氯化钠溶液20 ml静脉注射,1次/d,连续应用2周,使用总量为28 g。常规剂量组在透析结束时予以左旋肉毒碱1 g加入0.9%氯化钠溶液20 ml静脉注射,连续应用2周,使用总量为6 g。检测治疗前后脑钠肽(BNP)、肌钙蛋白Ⅰ(cTnI)水平,并于治疗前后测量左心室舒张末期内径(LVEDD)、室间隔舒张末厚度(IVSdT)、左心室后壁舒张末厚度(LVPWdT)、左心室射血分数(LVEF)、舒张早期和舒张晚期左房室瓣口最大血流速度之比(E/A)等指标。结果两组治疗前BNP、cTnI、LVEDD、IVSdT、LVPWdT、LVEF、E/A比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);两组治疗后LVEF、E/A比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);常规剂量组治疗后BNP、cTnI、LVEDD、IVSdT、LVPWdT高于高剂量组(P<0.05)。常规剂量组治疗前、后LVEF、E/A比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);常规剂量组治疗后BNP、cTnI、LVEDD、IVSdT、LVPWdT低于治疗前(P<0.05)。高剂量组治疗后BNP、cTnI、LVEDD、IVSdT、LVPWdT低于治疗前,LVEF、E/A高于治疗前(P<0.05)。治疗后高剂量组手术回归率为63.6%(14/22),高于常规剂量组的28.6%(6/21)(χ~2=5.31,P=0.021)。结论高剂量左旋肉毒碱治疗R-SHPT患者促进心脏功能恢复、改善左心室重构效果更佳,能为患者行PTX治疗创造更好时机。

Meta-analysis on Efficacy of Yiqi Huoxue Chinese Drugs in the Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease after Coronary Revascularization

[Objectives] To make a systematic evaluation on the therapeutic efficacy and safety of Yiqi Huoxue traditional Chinese drugs combined with western medicine in treatment of coronary heart disease( CHD) after coronary revascularization. [Methods] The literatures were retrieved from China Knowledge Infrastructure( CNKI),Chinese science and technology journal full-text database( VIP database,VIP),Wanfang Data,the Chinese biomedical Database,Pub Med,Embase,and the Cochrane Library. The retrieval time was set to the creation of the database to January 2017. The randomized controlled trial( RCT) was conducted on the comparison between Yiqi Huoxue Chinese drugs combined with western medicine and the western medicine alone in the treatment of CHD after coronary revascularization. The literature information was extracted and the methodological quality of the included literature was evaluated according to the bias risk assessment tool developed by the Cochrane Collaboration. Meta-analysis was performed with the aid of Rev Man 5. 3 software. Coronary artery restenosis rate,angina pectoris treatment efficiency,left ventricular ejection fraction( LVEF),left ventricular end-diastolic volume( LVEDV),B-type natriuretic peptide( BNP),6-minute walk test( 6 MWT),and adverse reactions were analyzed. [Results] A total of 29 articles were included,a total of2 518 patients,the literature quality was low. Meta-analysis results showed that compared with the treatment by western medicine alone,Yiqi Huoxue Chinese drugs combined with western medicine could further reduce coronary restenosis rate[RR = 0. 45,95% CI( 0. 34,0. 60),P <0. 000 01],improve the angina pectoris treatment efficiency[RR = 1. 13,95% CI( 1. 05,1. 21),P = 0. 000 5],raise LVEF[WMD = 4. 25,95% CI( 3. 46,5. 04),P < 0. 000 01],reduce LVEDV[WMD =-10. 41,95% CI(-17. 88,-2. 95),P = 0. 006],decrease the plasma BNP level[WMD =-32. 32,95% CI(-44. 92,-19. 72),P < 0. 000 01],and increase 6 MWT distance(WMD = 62. 25,95% CI( 21. 71,102. 78),P = 0. 003)[Conclusions]Yiqi Huoxue Chinese drugs combined with western medicine can alleviate the symptoms of angina pectoris,reduce the rate of coronary restenosis,improve heart function and improve exercise capacity,thereby improving clinical efficacy in patients with CHD after coronary revascularization.

Femoral indicator injection for transpulmonary thermodilution using the EV1000/VolumeView~®: do the same criteria apply as for the PiCCO~®?

Objective： Comparison of global end-diastolic volume index （GEDVI） obtained by femoral and jugular transpulmonary thermodilution （TPTD） indicator injections using the EV1000NolumnView device （Edwards Lifesci- ences, Irvine, USA）. Methods： In an 87-year-old woman with hypovolemic shock and equipped with both jugular and femoral vein access and monitored with the EV1000NolumeView device, we recorded 10 datasets, each comprising duplicate TPTD via femoral access and duplicate TPTD （20 ml cold saline） via jugular access. Results： Mean femoral GEDVI （（674.6±52.3） ml/m2） was significantly higher than jugular GEDVI （（552.3±69.7） ml/m2）, with P=-0.003. Bland-Airman analysis demonstrated a bias of （＋122±61） ml/m2, limits of agreement of -16 and ＋260 ml/m2, and a percentage error of 22%. Use of the correction-formula recently suggested for the PiCCO device significantly reduced bias and percentage error. Similarly, mean values of parameters derived from GEDVI such as pulmonary vascular permeability index （PVPI; 1.244±0.101 vs. 1.522±0.139; P〈0.001） and global ejection fraction （GEF; （24.7±1.6）% vs. （28.1±1.8）%; P〈0.001） were significantly different in the case of femoral compared to jugular indicator injection. Fur- thermore, the mean cardiac index derived from femoral indicator injection （（4.50±0.36） L/（min.m2）） was significantly higher （P=0.02） than that derived from jugular indicator injection （（4.12±0.44） L/（min.m2））, resulting in a bias of （＋0.38±0.37） L/（min.m2） and a percentage error of 19.4%. Conclusions： Femoral access for indicator injection results in markedly altered values provided by the EV1000NolumeView , particularly for GEDVI, PVPI, and GEF.