Exercise intolerance in patients with chronic coronary syndrome: insights from exercise stress echocardiography.

Aims: This study applied exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) to identify risk factors associated with exercise intolerance in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS).

Methods And Results: 90 CCS patients underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test and ESE, assessing exercise capacity, left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, and systolic reserve. The patients were divided into two groups according to the percentage of predicted oxygen consumption (VO) at peak (≥85%, normal exercise tolerance group; <85%, exercise intolerant group).

Effects of right ventricular remodeling in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension on the outcomes of balloon pulmonary angioplasty: a 2D-speckle tracking echocardiography study.

Background: Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) improves the prognosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Right ventricle (RV) is an important predictor of prognosis in CTEPH patients. 2D-speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) can evaluate RV function.

Efficacy of balloon pulmonary angioplasty in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension patients with pulmonary comorbidity.

Background: Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is an established treatment for inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), but its efficacy in CTEPH patients with a pulmonary comorbidity has not been well-studied. Here, we compared post-BPA outcomes between CTEPH patients with and without chronic pulmonary disease at baseline and analyzed predictors of BPA success.

Methods: From August 2017 to October 2022, 62 patients with inoperable CTEPH who underwent BPA were consecutively enrolled and grouped based on the presence of a pulmonary comorbidity at baseline.

Effects of 3-month dapagliflozin on left atrial function in treatment-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Assessment using 4-dimensional echocardiography.

Background: The sodium-glucose transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor dapagliflozin can improve left ventricular (LV) performance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the effects on left atrial (LA) function in treatment-naïve T2DM patients remain unclear. The aim of our study was 1) to investigate the effects of 3-month treatment with dapagliflozin on LA function in treatment-naïve patients with T2DM using 4-dimensional automated LA quantification (4D Auto LAQ) and 2) to explore linked covariation patterns of changes in clinical and LA echocardiographic variables.

99mTc-HFAPi imaging identifies early myocardial fibrosis in the hypertensive heart.

Background: This study aimed to explore whether 99mTc-radiolabeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (99mTc-HFAPi) imaging can detect early myocardial fibrosis in the hypertensive heart.

Methods: In the experimental model, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and age-matched Wistar Kyoto rats (WKYs) were randomly divided into three groups (8, 16, and 28 weeks). The animals underwent 99mTc-HFAPi imaging and echocardiography.

Echocardiographic Characteristics of Pulmonary Artery Intimal Sarcoma: Comparison With CTPA.

Objectives: This study examined the echocardiographic characteristics of patients with pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma (PAIS) and compared the results with those from computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA).

Method: Twenty-six (26) patients were diagnosed with PAIS at the current institution during the study period, and 23 were eligible for analysis. Echocardiography and CTPA examinations were performed in all enrolled patients.

Pulmonary artery sarcoma: an unexpected settler in the right ventricular outflow tract.

Pulmonary artery sarcoma (PAS) is a sporadic malignant tumor that mainly originates from the pulmonary arteries. However, PAS may also involve the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and lead to obstruction, syncope, or sudden death. Early diagnosis and complete surgical resection are essential to prolong survival and improve the quality of life of patients with PAS.

Assessment of right ventricular remodeling in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension by 2D-speckle tracking echocardiography: A comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance.

Background: Right heart remodeling occurs in a substantial proportion of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and significantly affects their prognosis. Two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) can be used to evaluate myocardial deformation under physiological and pathological conditions. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of 2D-STE for evaluating right ventricular (RV) remodeling in CTEPH patients.

Left atrial strain for predicting recurrence in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation: a single-center two-dimensional speckle tracking retrospective study.

Background: Although catheter ablation (CA) is an effective treatment for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF), a good many of patients still have a recurrence following post-operation. Prediction of AF recurrence by evaluating left atrial (LA) phase function with speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) may be helpful for risk stratification and clinical management for AF patients. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the prognostic value of LA strains in non-valvular AF patients after CA.

Extensive fibrotic wrapping of the heart: a rare echocardiographic diagnosis.

Background: Fibrosing mediastinitis (FM) is considered a benign disease, but it can be fatal if progression leads to compression of the hilum of the lungs or invasion of the heart. Echocardiographic reports of this disease are very rare.

Case Presentation: We present a 14-year-old male patient whose non-enhanced chest computed tomography showed unclear soft-tissue dense lesions in the anterior superior mediastinum.

Quantitative evaluation and significance of ultrasound in bronchoalveolar lavage for lung consolidation in children with severe mycoplasma pneumonia.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of lung ultrasound on bronchoalveolar lavage in the treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia in children.

Methods: Thirty children with mycoplasma pneumonia who were treated with medication and bronchial lavage were selected. We collected the results of laboratory and imaging examinations after admission, and the changes in lung consolidation area were examined by ultrasound before, immediately upon completion, and at 1, 3, and 7 days after bronchoalveolar lavage.

Risk assessment in interstitial lung disease: the incremental prognostic value of cardiopulmonary ultrasound.

Background: The mortality risk of chronic interstitial lung disease (ILD) is currently assessed using the ILD-GAP score. The present study evaluates whether the addition of cardiopulmonary ultrasound parameters to the ILD-GAP score can further improve the predictive value of ILD-GAP.

Methods: Medical records from 91 patients with ILD hospitalized from June 2015 to March 2016 were retrospectively examined.

The Value of Preoperative and Intraoperative Ultrasound in the Localization of Intrathyroidal Parathyroid Adenomas.

Aim: Intrathyroidal parathyroid adenoma (IPA) is rare and may easily be mistaken for thyroid nodule in ultrasonography. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristic features of IPA and explore the value of preoperative and intraoperative ultrasound in the diagnosis and localization of IPA.

Methods: 13 of 216 patients who were found to have intrathyroidal parathyroid lesions underwent parathyroidectomy in our hospital because of PHPT.

Value of Index Beat in Evaluating Left Ventricular Systolic and Diastolic Function in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Dual Pulsed-Wave Doppler Study.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) poses challenges in use of the echocardiogram to assess left ventricular (LV) function. The index beat method has been found to agree well with the average method. We aimed to assess the value of the index beat method in evaluation of LV function using the dual pulsed wave Doppler technique.

Echocardiographic characteristics of primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma and outcomes analysis: a retrospective study.

Background: Little is known about the echocardiographic characteristics of primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma (PPM) due to its rarity. The aim of this study was to explore the sex-specific echocardiographic patterns of PPM and risk factors for in-hospital mortality.

Methods: A retrospective information retrieval was conducted for cases of PPM reported from China during 1981 and 2015.

Systemic-pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae with pulmonary hypertension: A case report.

Background: Arteriovenous (AV) fistulae is an extremely rare disease of vascular malformation that involves fistulae formation between the systemic and pulmonary AV systems.

Case Representation: This case report describes a rare systemic-pulmonary AV fistulae of congenital origin, accompanied by pulmonary hypertension, as determined by aortic angiography and echocardiography.

Conclusion: Characteristics, diagnosis, and therapeutic approaches of this rare abnormality are explored.

Three-dimensional echocardiography to evaluate right atrial volume and phasic function in pulmonary hypertension.

Objective: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) impairs right ventricular (RV) systolic and diastolic function, which in turn induces compensatory changes in right atrial (RA) function; the diverse effects on RA function are subject to much debate. We hypothesized that RA function plays a more important role in compensating RV dysfunction, than mere prevention of clinical failure in patients with PH.

Methods: We studied 54 patients with PH and 23 healthy controls.

Echocardiographic characteristics of pulmonary artery involvement in Takayasu arteritis.

Background: Up to 50% patients with Takayasu arteritis have pulmonary artery involvement. Hence, the early identification of pulmonary artery involvement to facilitate prompt treatment is required.

Methods: This retrospective study was performed in patients diagnosed with Takayasu arteritis between January 2009 and January 2016.

Isolated Congenital Muscular Diverticulum of the Left Ventricular Apex Complicated with Mural Thrombosis in an Adult.

We present a case of apical isolated congenital left ventricular (LV) diverticulum complicated with mural thrombosis in an adult and elucidate the echocardiographic features for differential diagnosis of LV outpouchings.

Effects of Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells Delivered through a Graft Vessel for Patients with Previous Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart Failure: An Echocardiographic Study of Left Atrium Function.

Objectives: The graft of stem cells to treat ischemic cardiomyopathy is popular in many clinical trials. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of isolated coronary artery bypass graft combined with bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) delivered through the graft vessels to improve left atrium (LA) function of patients with previous myocardial infarction and chronic heart failure using echocardiography.

Methods: Forty-two patients with previous myocardial infarction and chronic heart failure were randomly allocated to one of the two groups: coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) only (18 in CABG group) or CABG with BMMNC transplantation (24 in CABG + BMMNC group).

Effects of Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells Delivered through a Graft Vessel for Patients with Previous Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart Failure: An Echocardiographic Study of Left Ventricular Function.

Objectives: The graft of stem cells to treat ischemic cardiomyopathy is popular in many clinical trials. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of isolated coronary artery bypass graft combined with bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) delivered through graft vessels to improve left ventricular function of patients with previous myocardial infarction and chronic heart failure using echocardiography.

Methods: Forty-two patients with previous myocardial infarction and chronic heart failure were randomly allocated to one of the two groups: CABG only (18 in CABG group), or CABG with BMMNC transplantation (24 in CABG + BMMNC group).