Diagnosis, Genetics, and Management of 24 Patients With Cardiac Paragangliomas: Experience From a Single Center.

Context: Paragangliomas located within the pericardium represent a rare yet challenging clinical situation.

Objective: The current analysis aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of cardiac paragangliomas, with emphasis on the diagnostic approach, genetic background, and multidisciplinary management.

Methods: Twenty-four patients diagnosed with cardiac paraganglioma (PGL) in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China, between 2003 and 2021 were identified.

Initiating ivabradine during hospitalization in patients with acute heart failure: A real-world experience in China.

Background: Initiating ivabradine in acute heart failure (HF) is still controversial.

Hypothesis: Ivabradine might be effective to be added in acute but hemodynamically stable HF.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of hemodynamically stable acute HF patients was enrolled from January 2018 to January 2020 and followed until July 2020.

Prognostic value of left atrial mechanics in cardiac light-chain amyloidosis with preserved ejection fraction: a cohort study.

Background: Light-chain amyloidosis is a plasma cell disorder associated with poor outcomes, especially when the heart is involved. The characteristics of left atrial (LA) function and its prognostic implications in cardiac amyloidosis (CA) have not been fully investigated.

Methods: Between April 2014 and June 2019, 93 patients with a diagnosis of CA, normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and sinus rhythm were included.

Usefulness of Myocardial Strain and Twist for Early Detection of Myocardial Dysfunction in Patients With Autoimmune Diseases.

Cardiac involvement in autoimmune diseases (AD) is common but underdiagnosed due to a lack of sensitive imaging methods. We aim to evaluate the characteristics of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction in patients with AD using deformational parameters from 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE). We retrospectively enrolled 86 AD patients and 71 healthy controls.

Prognostic Value of Tricuspid Valve Geometry and Leaflet Coaptation Status in Patients Undergoing Tricuspid Annuloplasty: A Three-Dimensional Echocardiography Study.

Background: The advent of three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) enables detailed evaluation of the tricuspid valve (TV) apparatus; nonetheless, the clinical value of preoperative 3DE is unknown in patients undergoing tricuspid annuloplasty (TA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of TV geometric parameters and leaflet coaptation status evaluated by 3DE in patients undergoing TA.

Methods: A total of 122 patients who underwent TA during left-sided heart valve surgery were prospectively evaluated.

Left ventricular strain is associated with acute postoperative refractory hypotension in patients with constrictive pericarditis and preserved ejection fraction.

Background: Pericardiectomy is an effective treatment for constrictive pericarditis (CP). Early postoperative complications such as refractory hypotension and congestive heart failure occur in these patients and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that left ventricular (LV) myocardial strain measured by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) could identify early cardiac dysfunction and relate to acute postoperative adverse events in CP patients.

Cerebral embolism secondary to cardiac amyloidosis: A case report and literature review.

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) describes a group of heterogeneous diseases that are characterized by the extracellular fibril deposition of amyloid protein in the myocardium. The abnormal protein is usually derived from light-chain amyloidosis, mutant transthyretin amyloidosis and wild-type transthyretin. Patients with ischemic strokes and amyloidosis have been sporadically reported, however, they are not well summarized.

Subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction detected by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma and preserved ejection fraction.

Background: Excessive catecholamine leads to pressure overload and left ventricular (LV) remodeling. The goal of this study was to explore subclinical LV systolic dysfunction and the mechanism of preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.

Methods: A total of 48 patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma and preserved LVEF and 38 age- and gender-matched volunteers were studied.

Increased Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor Expression on Circulating Monocytes Is Correlated with Clinical Instability and Long-Term Adverse Cardiac Events in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the clinical correlates and prognostic roles of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) on circulating monocytes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: 263 angina patients were included in this study. The percentage of uPAR expressing monocytes (PUEM) and the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) index of uPAR were measured using flow cytometry.

Correlation between severity of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and pulmonary artery systolic pressure: a study of 338 patients.

Purpose: Study of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Objective: To examine the correlation between pulmonary arterial pressure and coronal Cobb angle of idiopathic scoliosis.

Methods: A total of 338 patients (82.

Effect of Right Heart Systolic Function on Outcomes in Patients with Constrictive Pericarditis Undergoing Pericardiectomy.

Background: To determine the influence of right ventricular function in patients with constrictive pericarditis (CP) undergoing surgery and to compare the outcomes of patients who received surgery with those managed medically.

Methods: Patients with the diagnosis of CP and healthy volunteers were recruited from January 2006 to November 2011. Patients with CP chose to either receive pericardiectomy or medical management.

Doppler Echocardiographic Measurements in Normal Chinese Adults (EMINCA): a prospective, nationwide, and multicentre study.

Aims: Currently, available Doppler echocardiographic reference values are derived mainly from North American and European population studies, which may not applicable to the Chinese population. We aimed to establish normal reference values of Doppler echocardiographic parameters in a nationwide, population-based cohort of healthy Han Chinese adults.

Methods And Results: A total of 1394 qualified healthy subjects (mean age 47.

Echocardiographic measurements in normal chinese adults focusing on cardiac chambers and great arteries: a prospective, nationwide, and multicenter study.

Background: Currently available echocardiographic reference values are derived mainly from North American and European population studies, and no echocardiographic reference values are available for the Chinese population. The aim of this study was to establish normal values of echocardiographic measurements of the cardiac chambers and great arteries in a nationwide, population-based cohort of healthy Han Chinese adults.

Methods: A total of 1,586 healthy Han Chinese volunteers aged 18 to 79 years were screened at 43 collaborating laboratories throughout China.

[Long-term efficacy and safety of adjuvant trastuzumab for HER2-positive early breast cancer].

Objective: To explore the long-term efficacy and safety of adjuvant trastuzumab for HER2-positive early breast cancer.

Methods: The clinicopathological data were collected 31 HER2-positive early breast cancer patients on the 1/2-year adjuvant therapy of trastuzumab at our hospital from October 2001 to October 2003. And the disease-free survival, recurrence-free survival, overall survival and safety were respectively analyzed.

[Long-term effects of arteriovenous fistula on cardiac structure and function in non-diabetic hemodialysis patients].

Objective: To evaluate the long-term effects of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) on heamodynamic changes and cardiac structure and function in non-diabetic hemodialysis patients.

Methods: Data were collected from 50 non-diabetic hemodialysis patients (aged 18 to 60 years) who had used AVF as the vascular access. AVF flow (Qa), stoke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), central blood volume (CBV) and peripheral vascular resistance (PR) were measured using the ultrasound dilution technique.

[Ultrasonic characteristics of intravenous leiomyomatosis with intracardiac extension].

Objective: To explore the sonographic characteristics of intraveous leiomyomatosis (IVL) with intracardiac extension and improve its diagnosis.

Methods: The clinical and sonographic data of 13 female patients with pathologically confirmed IVL with intracardiac extension who were treated in our hospital between 2002 and 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. These patients aged 44 years old (range: 38-49 years), and 10 of them were first-episode patients and the remaining 3 were recurrent patients.

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery detected by echocardiography in an asymptomatic adult.

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital malformation. It is unusual for an ALCAPA patient to survive to adulthood. We present a case of an asymptomatic 54-year-old woman with this syndrome in which visualization of a markedly enlarged and tortuous right coronary artery and intercoronary collaterals by echocardiography raises suspicion for this disease and subsequently guides a step-by-step diagnosis.

[Association between cardiac function and intradialytic hypotension].

Objective: To prospectively determinate the association of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function with intradialytic hypotension (IDH) in patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

Methods: Totally 115 patients with sinus rhythm were included in this study and divided into IDH group (n=29) and control group (n=86). The cardiac function was assessed by New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification before hemodialysis.

[Clinical and echocardiographic features of cardiac myxomas in 64 patients].

Objective: To summarize the clinical and echocardiographic features of cardiac myxomas.

Methods: The medical records of patients with diagnosis of cardiac myxomas who hospitalized in our department from October 1985 to February 2011 were analyzed.

Results: A total of 64 patients were enrolled [40 female, the mean age was 2 - 77 (47 ± 17) years].

[Infective endocarditis in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: five cases report].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of infective endocarditis in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Methods: Clinical characteristics from 5 patients with infective endocarditis and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy hospitalized from January 2000 to December 2010 in our hospital were analyzed.

Results: Four patients were diagnosed with left ventricular outflow tract obstructive cardiomyopathy with outflow pressure gradient from 36 to 140 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.

[Value of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis].

Objective: To observe the clinical features and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) characteristics of patients with endomyocardial biopsy (EMB)-proven cardiac amyloidosis (CA).

Methods: EMB proven CA patients underwent CMR examination from September 2006 to December 2010 were included. The findings of clinical manifestation, electrocardiogram, echocardiography and CMR were analyzed.

Hemodynamic parameters obtained by transthoracic echocardiography and right heart catheterization: a comparative study in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Hemodynamic evaluation is crucial for the management of patients with pulmonary hypertention. Clinicians often prefer a rapid and non-invasive method. This study aimed to examine the feasibility of transthoracic echocardiography for the measurements of hemodynamic parameters in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

[Cardiovascular manifestations in Chinese patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome].

Objective: To evaluate the cardiovascular involvements in Chinese patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome.

Method: We respectively reviewed 149 inpatients with hypereosinophilic syndrome admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital and analyzed the cardiovascular involvements in these patients.

Results: Cardiac abnormalities was evidenced in 32.