The impact of frame numbers on cardiac ECG-gated SPECT images with interpolated extra frames using echocardiography.

Cardiac echocardiography and cardiac ECG-gated single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) are the most common modalities for left ventricle (LV) volumes and function assessment. The temporal resolution of SPECT images is limited and an ECG provides better temporal resolution. This study investigates the impact of frame numbers on images in terms of qualitative and quantitative assessments.

Left ventricular torsional parameters before and after atrial fibrillation ablation: a velocity vector imaging study.

Background And Aim: Effects of atrial fibrillation (AF) and its ablative treatment on LV torsion have not yet been fully investigated. This study aimed to examine whether AF patterns of LV contraction and its ablative correction can exert a significant impact on LV torsion by velocity vector imaging (VVI).

Methods: This case-control study conducted in Rajaie Cardiovascular, Medical and Research Center between October 2012 and June 2013.

Impact of metabolic syndrome on mortality and morbidity after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Background: The prevalence of Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been increased in Asian countries. It represents a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors including obesity, insulin resistance, lipid abnormality and hypertension.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the association between MetS and outcome in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG).

Diagnostic Pitfalls and Challenges in Interpretation of Heart Transplantation Rejection in Endomyocardial Biopsies With Focus on our Experience.

Background: The current trend of heart transplantation in recent years has taken a quantum leap forward. We decided to look back at our experience in this center.

Objectives: Here, we focus on the diagnostic pitfalls and challenges in these biopsies.

The time interval between the onset of tricuspid E wave and annular Ea wave (TE-Ea) can predict right atrial pressure in patients with heart failure.

Objective: There is conflicting data regarding the tricuspid annular velocities and their relation to right ventricular filling pressures. We aimed to assess if the time interval between the onset of tricuspid E wave and annular Ea wave has any correlation with right sided filling pressure in patients with heart failure.

Methods: Thirty heart failure patients (left ventricular ejection fraction≤35%) were enrolled.

Effect of obesity on mortality and morbidity after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery in Iranian patients.

Background: Recent years have witnessed the emergence of obesity as a major public health concern. The drastic rise in obesity and its concomitant co-morbidities is a reflection of the recent changes in dietary habits in Iran and many other developing countries. A recent large population study in Tehran reported that 58% and 75% of middle-aged Iranian men and women, respectively, were either overweight or obese.

A rare case of community-acquired native quadruple-valve endocarditis.

We report the case of a male patient with community-acquired quadruple-valve endocarditis on presumed normal native valves. This patient had originally presented elsewhere with generalized edema and malaise and had been diagnosed with suspicious endocarditis and renal dysfunction, for which he unfortunately received incomplete treatment. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic examinations confirmed quadruple-valve endocarditis and ventricular septal defect.

Assessment of subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in patients with chronic mitral regurgitation using torsional parameters described by tissue Doppler imaging.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) twist is due to oppositely directed apical and basal rotation and has been proposed as a sensitive marker of LV function. We sought to assess the impact of chronic pure mitral regurgitation (MR) on the torsional mechanics of the left human ventricle using tissue Doppler imaging.

Methods: Nineteen severe MR patients with a normal LV ejection fraction and 16 non-MR controls underwent conventional echocardiography and apical and basal short-axis color Doppler myocardial imaging (CDMI).

Noninvasive localization of accessory pathways in patients with wolff-Parkinson-white syndrome: a strain imaging study.

Background: Noninvasive techniques for the localization of the accessory pathways (APs) might help guide mapping procedures and ablation techniques. We sought to examine the diagnostic accuracy of strain imaging for the localization of the APs in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Methods: We prospectively studied 25 patients (mean age = 32 ± 17 years, 58.

Assessment of Inter and Intra-atrial Asynchrony in Patients with Systolic Heart Failure Using Velocity Vector Imaging.

Background: According to previous studies on the deformation properties of the left atrium, the systolic strain and strain rates represent the atrial reservoir function and the early and late diastolic strain rates show the conduit and booster functions, respectively.

Objectives: We sought to evaluate the intra and interatrial asynchrony using strain/strain rate imaging in systolic heart failure patients.

Patients And Methods: Twenty five patients with systolic heart failure (LVEF ≤ 40%) were enrolled into the study.

Evaluation of left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis severity from myocardial end-diastolic wall stress estimated by tissue-Doppler imaging.

Purpose: To identify patients with significant coronary artery disease by the noninvasive quantification of myocardial wall stress in diastole.

Methods: We studied 60 male subjects in sinus rhythm with significant (n = 30) or moderate (n = 30) proximal left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis, and 30 healthy subjects (control group). The average end-diastolic wall stress was estimated at left ventricle anterior and interventricular septum wall segments from regional wall thickness, meridional and circumferential regional radii of curvature, and noninvasively estimated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure.

Utility of right ventricular strain imaging in predicting pulmonary vascular resistance in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) has important prognostic implications in the assessment of patients with pulmonary hypertension. Using echocardiography to measure PVR would have the advantage of being able to follow patients serially and to assess their response to treatment noninvasively. The authors sought to assess whether right ventricular strain rate imaging (SRI) can predict PVR in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Quantitative assessment of right atrial function by strain and strain rate imaging in patients with heart failure.

Objectives: We sought to evaluate the regional longitudinal strain/strain rate profiles in the right atrial wall to quantify right atrial function in systolic heart failure patients.

Background: According to previous studies on the deformational properties of the left atrium, the systolic strain and strain rates represent the atrial reservoir function and the early and late diastolic strain rates show the conduit and booster functions, respectively.

Methods: Thirty patients with a diagnosis of heart failure (left ventricular ejection fraction < or = 35%) scheduled for right heart catheterization were enrolled.

Coronary flow reserve, strain and strain rate imaging during pharmacological stress before and after percutaneous coronary intervention: comparison and correlation.

Introduction: Coronary flow reserve (CFR) could apply reliable information about the coronary circulation, and strain (S) and strain rate imaging (SRI) are able to quantify the left ventricular myocardial performance. The aim of this study was to assess myocardial performance in relation to the function of the coronary circulation before and after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the left anterior descending artery.

Material And Method: Fourteen patients (10 men, 4 women, mean age 53.

Non-invasive assessment of coronary artery stenosis with estimation of myocardial wall stress.

Background: More diagnostic techniques require a better understanding of the forces and stresses developed in the wall of the left ventricle. The aim of this study was to differentiate significant coronary artery disease (CAD) patients using a non-invasive quantification of myocardial wall stress in the diastole phase.

Methods: Sixty male subjects with sinus rhythm (30 patients with significant and 30 with moderate left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis in the proximal portion) as well as 35 healthy subjects as the control group were recruited into the present study.

Predictors of ventricular tachycardia induction in syncopal patients with mild to moderate left ventricular dysfunction.

Background: In patients with mild to moderate left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) (35% pound LVEF pound 50%) who present with syncope, demonstration of tachy and/or brady-arrhythmia has prognostic value. In this group of patients electrophysiological study (EPS) is often necessary.

Methods: A total of 53 consecutive patients with mild to moderate LVD and history of undetermined syncope underwent EPS.

Evaluation of left ventricular systolic and diastolic regional function after enhanced external counter pulsation therapy using strain rate imaging.

Aims: Enhanced external counter pulsation (EECP) is a non-invasive and non-pharmacological therapy for patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD). There are, however, insufficient data to support the effectiveness of EECP in improving the myocardial mechanical properties of patients with refractory stable angina. We aimed to assess the effects of EECP on myocardial mechanical properties and cardiac functions in CAD patients not eligible for surgical or percutaneous revascularization procedures.

Significance of QRS morphology in determining the prevalence of mechanical dyssynchrony in heart failure patients eligible for cardiac resynchronization: particular focus on patients with right bundle branch block with and without coexistent left-sided conduction defects.

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the significance of QRS morphology in determining the prevalence of mechanical dyssynchrony in heart failure (HF) patients considered eligible for cardiac resynchronization.

Methods And Results: A total of 200 consecutive HF patients (158 males, mean age 56 +/- 13.5 years) with standard indications for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) were evaluated prospectively.

Prevalence of mechanical dyssynchrony in heart failure patients with different QRS durations.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has emerged as an established therapy for congestive heart failure. However, up to 30% of patients fail to respond to CRT despite prolonged QRS.

Objectives: This study aimed at defining the prevalence of interventricular and intraventricular dyssynchrony in heart failure patients with different QRS durations.

Determination of instantaneous interventricular septum wall thickness by processing sequential 2D echocardiographic images.

Non-invasive quantitative analysis of the heart walls thickness is a fundamental step in diagnosis and discrimination of heart disease. Thickness measurements in 2D echocardiographic images have many applications in research and clinic for assessing of wall stress, wall thickening and viability parameters. Regarding to interventricular septum wall thickness measurement by conventional manual method is more dependent on sonographer experiment; this encouraged these researchers to develop a semi-automatic computer algorithm in accessing to interventricular septum segments thickness.