Obesity as an independent risk for left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in 692 Japanese patients.

Background: Both obesity and left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. There is a paucity of data as to whether obesity is independently associated with LV diastolic dysfunction.

Methods: Adult patients with sinus rhythm referred for a transthoracic echocardiography between July, 2007, and December, 2007, were prospectively included.

Left atrial volume by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography: validation by 64-slice multidetector computed tomography.

Background: Left atrial (LA) enlargement has been acknowledged as a significant predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Methods: To evaluate the accuracy of two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiography for determining LA volume, LA volume measurements by echocardiography were compared with those measured by 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) as a reference standard.

Results: Fifty-seven consecutive patients (mean age, 66 ± 11 years; 59% men) referred to echocardiography and MDCT on the same day were prospectively evaluated.

Endocarditis and giant mitral valve aneurysms.

In a 65-year-old man with infective endocarditis, multiple mitral valve aneurysms were detected by echocardiography. Surgical treatment was successful. Aneurysms of the valve are a relatively rare complication of infective endocarditis.

New index of regional arterial stiffness assessed by tissue Doppler imaging.

Background: Although brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity is a widely used index of arterial stiffness, there are several limitations of this method. The actual length of an artery used for measuring pulse wave velocity is estimated based on an anatomical correction value, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity is directly affected by systemic blood pressure or vascular occlusion. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether aortic wall strain rate as measured by tissue Doppler imaging is a more useful modality for evaluating regional arterial stiffness than brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity.