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).

Sequential multidisciplinary minimally invasive therapeutic strategy for heart failure caused by four diseases: A case report.

Background: The coexistence with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), mitral valve prolapse (MVP), atrial fibrillation (AF) and hyperthyroidism is extremely rare and complex. The optimal therapeutic strategy is difficult to develop.

Case Summary: A 27-year-old female with PDA, MVP, AF and hyperthyroidism presented with severe dyspnea.

Value of territorial work efficiency estimation in non-ST-segment-elevation acute coronary syndrome: a study with non-invasive left ventricular pressure-strain loops.

Non-ST-segment-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) patients with normal left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) and wall motion require a non-invasive tool to detect LV risk areas. This study utilized non-invasive LV pressure-strain loops to evaluate territorial myocardial work efficiency (WE) for identifying obstructive coronary artery stenosis, in patients with non-obstructive or obstructive coronary artery stenosis NSTE-ACS, the latter with or without occlusion. Global and territorial longitudinal strain (LS) analyses were performed via speckle-tracking imaging before coronary angiography.

[Professor -' clinical experiences in the identification and treatment of cranial tinnitus].

On the base of the relevant theories on disease identification of western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, professor - has made the differentiation of cranial tinnitus and proposes the intervention measures. The location of disease is identified firstly. Secondly, the deficiency is distinguished from the excess, and the involved organs are determined as well.

Left ventricular end-diastolic strain rate recovered in hypothyroidism following levothyroxine replacement therapy: A strain rate imaging study.

Background: This study aimed to explore the impact of overt hypothyroidism on diastolic left ventricular (LV) deformation and the effect of levothyroxine therapy using 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) strain rate (SR) imaging.

Methods: Forty-seven newly diagnosed hypothyroidic patients and 51 controls were prospectively enrolled. All participants underwent comprehensive 2-dimensional echocardiography.

Impaired Right Ventricular Mechanics at Rest and During Exercise Are Associated With Exercise Capacity in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background Impaired right ventricular ( RV ) function indicates RV involvement in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy ( HCM ). We aimed to assess RV function at rest and during exercise in HCM patients and to examine the association between impaired RV mechanics and exercise capacity. Methods and Results A total of 76 HCM patients (48 without and 28 with RV hypertrophy) and 30 age- and sex-matched controls were prospectively recruited.

Decreased biventricular mechanics and functional reserve in nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients: implications for exercise capacity.

The present study investigated the changes of biventricular mechanics at rest and during exercise and examined the association between exercise capacity and biventricular mechanics and functional reserve in nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (NHCM) patients. A total of 50 NHCM patients and 25 controls were consecutively recruited for this study. Using echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle-tracking imaging, an experienced echocardiographer determined the following indices: RV free wall longitudinal strain (RVFWLS), LV global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), strain rate (SR), and functional reserve of strain values.

17β-estradiol preserves right ventricular function in rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension: an echocardiographic and histochemical study.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is more prevalent in females. Paradoxically, female patients have better right ventricular (RV) function and higher survival rates than males. However, the effects of 17β-estradiol (E2) on RV function in PAH has not been studied.

Involvement of Oct4 in the pathogenesis of thoracic aortic dissection via inducing the dedifferentiated phenotype of human aortic smooth muscle cells by directly upregulating KLF5.

Objective: To investigate the expression of Oct4 in human thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) and the regulation mechanisms of Oct4 on phenotype transition of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs).

Methods: Aortic samples from TAD patients (n = 12) and organ donors (n = 6) were collected. qRT-PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry were performed to identify Oct4 expression in aortic media.

Proximal aortic repair versus extensive aortic repair in the treatment of acute type A aortic dissection: a meta-analysis.

Objectives: The optimal surgical strategy for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is still controversial because of the inconsistent or even conflicting results of proximal aortic repair (PR) versus extensive aortic repair (ER) on early and late prognostic outcomes. This meta-analysis pooled data from all available studies of PR versus ER to get a summarized conclusion.

Methods: Studies were identified by searching the Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane databases.

Immediate- and medium-term effects of simultaneous percutaneous corrections of secundum type atrial septal defect combined with pulmonary valve stenosis in local anesthesia and without transesophageal echocardiography guidance.

Background: The feasibility and efficacy of simultaneous percutaneous treatment of secundum type atrial septal defect (ASD) combined with pulmonary valve stenosis (PS) have not been proved.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy on the clinical benefit of simultaneous percutaneous correction of these two pathologies under local anesthesia and without transesophageal echocardiography guidance.

Methods: Transpulmonary gradient, functional status, pulmonary regurgitation (PR), and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) were studied in 35 patients undergoing percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty and ASD closure from March 2004 to July 2012.

A rare cause of cyanosis: hepatopulmonary syndrome caused by congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

A 19-year-old male patient presented cyanosis and dyspnoea because of the presence of multiple pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas resulting in oxygen desaturation. The CTA revealed that intestinal and splenic venous blood bypasses the liver and drains into the inferior vena cava. This is the first reported case of hepatopulmonary syndrome caused by congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt in which intestinal and splenic venous blood bypasses the liver and drains into the inferior vena cava.

Effects of the dietary supplementation with fructooligosaccharides on the excretion of nitrogen and phosphorus in Miichthys miiuy fries.

Effects of dietary supplementation with fructooligosaccharides on the excretion of nitrogen and phosphorus in Miichthys miiuy fries were investigated. Nine hundred Miichthys miiuy fries were divided into 3 groups, each with triplicates. The basal diet and the basal diet supplemented with carnitine groups were considered as the negative and positive controls respectively.