Association between waist circumference and childhood-masked hypertension: A community-based study.

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the association between waist circumference (WC) and childhood-masked hypertension.

Methods: A territory-wide, school-based cohort of 1385 Hong Kong students (672 boys and 713 girls) aged 8-17 years was analysed. The ambulatory blood pressure-monitoring assessment was performed using validated oscillometric recorders (A&D TM-2430 (A&D Inc.

Relation of Tricuspid Regurgitation to Liver Stiffness Measured by Transient Elastography in Patients With Left-Sided Cardiac Valve Disease.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the relation between tricuspid regurgitation (TR) severity and liver stiffness (LS) in patients with TR. A total of 131 patients with various degrees of TR secondary to left-sided heart valve disease were enrolled. Severity of TR was quantitatively assessed by proximal isovelocity surface area-derived effective regurgitant orifice (ERO).

Importance of chronotropic response and left ventricular long-axis function for exercise performance in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction.

Background: We evaluated the relationship between the degree of chronotropic incompetence and left ventricular (LV) impairment during exercise with severity of exercise intolerance in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF).

Methods: All patients underwent exercise echocardiography during bicycle Ergometer exercise with the acquisition of long-axis tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). Peak heart rates during exercise were also recorded and the percentages of maximal age-predicted heart rate (%MPHR) and heart rate reserve (%HRR) were calculated thereby.

Predictors of mid-term functional tricuspid regurgitation after device closure of atrial septal defect in adults: Impact of pre-operative tricuspid valve remodeling.

Background: Functional TR occurs in adults with congenital atrial septal defect (ASD) due to left-to-right inter-atrial shunting and enlarged right heart. The prevalence and the predictors of TR following ASD closure in adults remain unknown. Moreover, whether preoperative anatomical parameters of tricuspid valve related to TR after ASD closure is understudied.

Calibration of the normal cutoff values of systolic dyssynchrony of the left ventricular synchronicity in normal subjects using real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography and the effects of age and heart rate.

The normal data of left ventricular (LV) synchronicity by real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) are lacking. We assessed the normal range/cutoff values of LV dyssynchrony parameters by RT3DE. For this purpose, RT3DE was performed in 130 healthy subjects, aged 53 ± 12 years.

Oscillometric 24-h ambulatory blood pressure reference values in Hong Kong Chinese children and adolescents.

Objectives: We aimed to establish community-based normal reference values of 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) for Chinese children and adolescents. Furthermore, we investigated how excluding overweight children affects BP percentiles and compared them with German references.

Methods: In this territory-wide cross-sectional prospective cohort study, 1445 Hong Kong Chinese children and adolescents aged 8-17 years with body height between 119 and 185 cm were recruited.

Early time-dependent dynamic changes of TBET and GATA3 mRNA expressions in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: T-box expressed in T cells (TBET) and guanine adenine thymine adenine sequence-binding protein 3 (GATA3) play important roles in the differentiation of Th1 and Th2 subsets, which contributes to the progression of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the temporal change of TBET/GATA3 mRNA ratio in ACS.

Methods: Thirty-three patients suspected of ACS with symptom onset within 24 hours were recruited.

Quantification of left ventricular performance in different heart failure phenotypes by comprehensive ergometry stress echocardiography.

Background: We evaluated the left ventricular (LV) performance in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) during exercise as compared to those with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFREF) and healthy subjects.

Methods: All subjects received echocardiographic (Vivid7, GE Healthcare) examination with symptom-limited exercise testing on a semi-recumbent and tilting bicycle ergometer (Lode BV, Netherlands). The exercise images for 2-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking were acquired with heart rate of 90-100 bpm, while exercise images for tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and M-mode echocardiography were stored with attainment of >85% of maximal age-predicted heart rate.

Validation of A&D TM-2430 upper-arm blood pressure monitor for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in children and adolescents, according to the British Hypertension Society protocol.

Objective: The A&D TM-2430 ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitor has been validated in adults but not in a young population. We sought to validate the device monitoring in children and adolescents, according to the British Hypertension Society (BHS) protocol.

Methods: The A&D TM-2430 is an automated oscillometric upper-arm device for ambulatory BP monitoring.

Evaluation of a novel cardiac output index on healthy elderly, cardiovascular and heart failure patients during dynamic exercise.

We have recently proposed a novel CO index, namely pulse time reflection ratio (PTRR), which is extracted from photoplethysmogram and electrocardiogram and measurable from wearable devices, and proved that this index is potentially useful for dynamic CO monitoring in a preliminary study carried out on young, healthy subjects. In this study, we presented an evaluation of this technique against impedance cardiography on 64 subjects undergoing incremental maximal exercise testing, including 15 healthy elderly, 19 cardiovascular patients and 30 heart failure patients. Results showed significant intra-subject correlations (r) between PTRR and reference CO in all subjects (mean r: 0.

Albumin levels predict survival in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction.

Aims: Low serum albumin is common in patients with systolic heart failure and is associated with increased mortality. However, the relationship between albumin and outcome in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) is not known. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of serum albumin level on survival in patients with HFPEF.

The association between in utero hyperinsulinemia and adolescent arterial stiffness.

Aim: To determine the relationship between in utero hyperinsulinemia and children's arterial stiffness at adolescence.

Methods: Indices of arterial stiffness were measured using the SphygmoCor apparatus in 129 adolescents (42 offsprings of mother with gestational diabetes and 87 offsprings of mother with normal glucose tolerance during pregnancy) at 15 years of age.

Results: Adolescent of mothers with gestational diabetes had similar central aortic blood pressure, augmentation pressure (AP), augmentation index (AI), and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) as that of controls.

Atrial dysfunction and interatrial dyssynchrony predict atrial high rate episodes: insight into the distinct effects of right atrial appendage pacing.

Introduction: Right atrial (RA) appendage pacing may prolong atrial conduction time (ACT). This study aimed to investigate if RA appendage pacing can induce intra- and interatrial dyssynchrony and if atrial dysfunction and dyssynchrony can predict atrial high rate episodes (AHREs) in the first year after pacing.

Methods And Results: Patients implanted with dual-chamber pacemakers for symptomatic bradycardia were enrolled.

Coronary artery disease and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Objective: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and is associated with cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to determine the role of fatty liver in predicting coronary artery disease and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing coronary angiogram.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study carried out in a University hospital.

Left atrial appendage closure with AMPLATZER cardiac plug for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: initial Asia-Pacific experience.

Background: Left atrial appendage (LAA) is the main source of left atrial thrombus that causes stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This study reported the initial safety, feasibility, and 1-yr clinical outcomes following AMPLATZER cardiac plug (ACP) implantation in Asia-Pacific region.

Methods: Twenty NVAF patients (16 males, age 68 ± 9 yr) with high risk for developing cardioembolic stroke (CHADS(2) score: 2.

Deleterious effect of right ventricular apical pacing on left ventricular diastolic function and the impact of pre-existing diastolic disease.

Aims: Right ventricular apex (RVA) pacing may have deleterious effects on left ventricular (LV) systolic function, but its impact on LV diastolic function has not been explored.

Methods And Results: Ninety-seven patients with sinus node dysfunction and ejection fraction (EF) ≥ 50% with permanent RVA pacing were randomly programmed to V-sense and V-pace modes and examined by echocardiography. Tissue Doppler imaging was employed to assess myocardial systolic velocity (S') and early diastolic velocity (E') at the mitral annulus.

Prevalence and determinants of incomplete right atrial reverse remodeling after device closure of atrial septal defects.

Whether the relief of chronic right atrial (RA) volume load by device closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD) normalizes RA size is unknown. The present study evaluated the prevalence and determinants of incomplete RA reverse remodeling (RAR) after ASD closure in adults. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in 44 consecutive patients with secundum ASD (age 43 ± 17 years, 10 men) without a history of atrial arrhythmia shortly before and at 3 months after device closure of ASD.

LV mechanical dyssynchrony in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction complicating acute coronary syndrome.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of left ventricular (LV) mechanical dyssynchrony in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) complicating acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Background: In systolic heart failure, LV mechanical dyssynchrony worsens cardiac function and cardiac resynchronization therapy improves clinical outcome. The role of LV mechanical dyssynchrony in HFPEF complicating ACS is unknown.

New pulmonary vein Doppler echocardiographic index predicts significant interatrial shunting in secundum atrial septal defect.

Background: The relation between pulmonary venous flow (PVF) pattern and degree of left-to-right interatrial shunting (IAS) in patients with secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) is unknown.

Methods: Fifty consecutive ASD patients (14 males, 36 ± 17 years) received transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) before and 1 day after transcatheter closure and their results were compared to 40 controls. The ratio of pulmonary-to-systemic flows (Qp/Qs) was assessed by TTE and invasive oximetry.

High prevalence of subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: Endothelial dysfunction and early atherosclerosis have been found in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) without cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Few studies have investigated whether there is any early impairment of myocardial function. The aims of our study were to determine the prevalence of subclinical left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in PsA patients and the disease-related risk factors.

Left atrial remodeling and reduced atrial pump function after chronic right ventricular apical pacing in patients with preserved ejection fraction.

Background: This prospective study was to examine the impact of right ventricular apical (RVA) pacing on atrial remodeling and function.

Methods And Results: 103 patients (age 70 ± 11 years; 53 men) with preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF>45%) who received RVA pacing had Doppler echocardiography performed at baseline and after one year follow up. At one year follow up, left atrial (LA) volumes (pre-atrial contraction volume and the minimal volume) and their indexes were significantly increased with reduction in passive emptying fraction and total emptying fraction (all p<0.