Differentiation of Systolic and Diastolic Heart Failure using Strain and Strain Rate Echocardiography

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Diastolic heart failure (DHF) is defined as clinical evidences of heart failure, with a normal ejection fraction (EF) and abnormal diastolic function. However, the distinction between DHF and SHF is often difficult. Strain (S) and strain rate (SR) echocardiography can measure the regional myocardial function as a magnitude and rate of deformation. The hypothesis"myocardial velocity (Vel), S & SR can provide additional information for differentiation DHF from SHF"was assessed. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 30 patients with symptomatic HF and low EF (SHF group) and 27 with symptomatic HF, and normal EF and diastolic dysfunction (DHF group) were enrolled. 37 age-and sex-matched control subjects were recruited. Conventional echo and regional indices (Vel, S and SR), measured at the mid septum and posterior wall, were obtained. RESULTS: Almost all clinical and echo indices of control were different between the two HF groups. The EF, LV mass, S' and DT in DHF were greater than those with SHF. The LA size, diastolic dysfunction grades; E, A, E/A, E', A' and E/E', were not different between the two HF groups. In the regional indices, the peak S (long axis: 12.0+/-5.4 vs. 17.6+/-5.9%, radial axis: 26.4+/-12.7 vs. 46.0+/-16.7%) and systolic Vel (long axis: 2.6+/-0.8 vs. 3.6+/-0.9 cm/s, radial axis: 2.1 (1.2 vs. 3.7+/-1.4 cm/s) with SHF were significantly lower than those with DHF. However, the SR of the two groups was not different. The best cutoff values of peak S were 13.7% (long axis) and 329% (radial axis), and the systolic Vel were 3.0 cm/s (long axis) and 2.8 cm/s (radial axis). CONCLUSION: The peak S and systolic Vel may be useful indices for differentiating DHF from SHF. A similarly decreased SR in the two HF groups suggests that DHF has decreased myocardial contractility, despite the normal EF.

A Case of Ascending Aortic Aneurysm Associated with Congenital Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common form of congenital valvular disease, and its presence may predispose the patients to development of true aortic or dissecting aortic aneurysms. An intrinsic aortic weakness may underlie a bicuspid aortic valve, aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection. We experienced a case of an ascending aortic aneurysm associated with a functionally normal bicuspid aortic valve. A screening echocardiograph was performed due to atypical chest pain, which detected a large ascending aortic aneurysm and a bicuspid aortic valve. The patient underwent an operation for an ascending aortic aneurysm and, is living one year later, and is asymptomatic. To the best of our knowledge, this may be the first case of an ascending aortic aneurysm associated with a bicuspid aortic valve in Korea.

The Inhibition of Neointimal Hyperplasia by Combination of External Radiation and Paclitaxel in A Rat Carotid Injury Model

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Radiation therapy is one of the promising new treatment for restenosis, which is a major problem for the long-term success after angioplasty. We compared radiation therapy only and combined therapy of paclitaxel and radiation on neointimal hyperplasia after injury of rat carotid artery to see whether we can reduce the effective dosage of radiation and thus diminish untoward consequence of radiation if paclitaxel could function as a cell-cycle selective radiosensitizer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A standardized carotid balloon catheter arterial injury was produced in 65 rats. First group was composed of a single dose of paclitaxel 1 mg/kg body weight, 2 mg/kg or 4 mg/kg, which was administrated intraperitoneally at 2 hours after injury. Second group received external radiation at doses of 2.5 or 5 Gy at 24 hours after injury. Third group was treated with combined paclitaxel-radiation: paclitaxel was injected at 2 hours after injury and then external radiation was delivered 24 hours later. At 21 days after injury, the cross-sectional area of neointima and the ratio of intima/medial area were determined from axial sections using image analysis. RESULTS: Single dose of paclitaxel had no effect in reducing smooth muscle cell proliferation. Minimum effective single dose to inhibit neointimal hyperplasia was 5 Gy. Combined paclitaxel-radiation group except subgroup with paclitaxel 1 mg/kg and 2.5 Gy radiation showed significant reduction of neointimal area compared to group with 2.5 Gy radiation. CONCLUSION: Low-dose external radiation combined with paclitaxel can more effectively inhibit smooth muscle cell pro-liferation and neointimal hyperplasia than radiation only in the rat carotid injury model.

Assessment of Autonomic Nervous System by the Analysis of Heart Rate Variability in Patients with Variant Angina

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Autonomic nervous discharge had been implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary artery spasm although the precise mechanisms by which coronary spasm is triggered remain to be elucidated. The purpose of this study was to assess the pattern of the autonomic nervous system in patients with variant angina through the analysis of heart rate variability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared the pattern of cardiac sympathetic and parasympathetic activity through the time domain and frequency domain analysis of heart rate variability with 24-hour Holter monitoring between 14 patients with variant angina and 14 healthy control subjects. None of the patients had organic coronary artery stenosis as determined by angiography. RESULTS: 1) Among the time domain indices, the percent of successive normal NN intervals difference greater than 50 msec (pNN50) and the square root of the mean squared differences of successive NN intervals (rMSSD) in the patient group were significantly lower than those in the normal control (p <0.05, repectively). 2) In the patient group, mean R-R intervals were significantly shortened from night to early morning compared to control group (p <0.05). 3) With frequency domian analysis, low frequency (0.04 to 0.15Hz)spectrum, which is correlated with sympathetic activity, was revealed no significant difference between two groups. From night to early morning, significant increase of high frequency (0.15 to 0.4 Hz) spectrum, which is specific index for vagal activity, and significant decrease of the ratio of low to high frequency, which represents sympatho-vagal interaction, was blunted in the patient group (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In variant angina, cardiac vagal influence on the heart rate was blunted and sympathetic activity was predominant at night and in the early morning.

Classification and Evaluation of the Callus in Limb Lengthening / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Recent advances in surgical techniques and equipment have made bone lengthening by callotasis both easier and safer, and many successful clinical cases have been reported. The callus formation, however, has often been very poor, and prolonged applied of the external jixator increases the risk of serious complications, such as pin tract infection. We reviewed 68 cases of limb lengthenings performed with callus distraction in 48 patients at Kang Nam St. Mary' s Hospital between January 1989 and May 1994. There were 29 female and 19 male patients, with an average age of 19 (6-50) years. Causes of limb shortening were short stature (14), poliomyelitis (8), fracture and physeal damage (6), osteomyelitis (6), Legg-Calve-Perthe's disease (4), bone tumor (3), congenital dislocation of the hip (3), leg length discrepancy (3), achondroplasia (2) and hip dysplasia (1). Sixty eight calluses were classified radiographically into 6 types: external, straight, attenuated, opposite, pillar, and scattered. The healing indexes and complications following the procedure were evaluated. The mean femoral lengthening was 6.2 (2-10) cm, the tibial 6.5 (3.3-15.7) cm, the forearm 1.8 (1.6- 2.2) cm and the humerus 10 cm. Fifteen cases classified as external type, 5 femur, 7 tibiae, 2 forearm and 1 humerus, with healing index of 34 days/cm and no major complications. Thirty one cases classified as straight type, 7 femur, 22 tibiae, 1 forearm and 1 humerus with healing index of 38 days/cm and 2 obstacles. Fourteen cases classified as attenuated type, 4 femur and 10 tibiae with healing index of 47 days/cm and 2 obstacles. Six cases classified as opposite type, 4 femur and 2 tibiae with healing index of 65 days/cm and 3 obstacles and 1 residual complications. Two cases classified as scattered type, 2 tibiae with healing index of 116 days/cm and 5 obstacles. The scattered type of the callus in two cases was suspected to be a result of poor callus formation due to K-wire breakage conditions that autogenous bone marrow transplantations were performed. This classification enabled us to estimate the intrinsic conditions, predict the healing index, incidence of complications, and decide to apply early bone marrow injection to the callus.

Ligament Injuries Combined with Proximal Tibia and Fibula Fracture / 대한정형외과학회잡지

It is well known that fractures around the knee joint are usually combined with ligament injuries but it is easy to miss the ligament injuries during the treatment of fractures. The invention of the MRI and the development of arthroscopic techniques has made it easy to diagnose and care for ligament injuries. Authors reviewed the patients who had fractures around the knee joint to evaluate the frequencies, types, treatments and the results of combined ligaments injuries. There were 57 cases with the fracture of the proximal tibia and fibula which could be follwed up at least one year: from January 1992 to June 1995. There were 19 cases (33%) which had combined ligament injuries. The ligament injuries were diagnosed by stress X-ray & MRI evaluation and confirmed by arthroscopic examination. Single lateral rim avulsion fracture of proximal tibia was the most common type of fractures (7 cases, 37%). There were 11 cases (57%) of combined injuries of anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament. It was the most common combined ligament injury. Except for one, eleven cases that were combined with lateral rim avulsion of proximal tibia had anterior cruciate ligament injury. There were ten cases (53%) of fibula head and neck fractures which were combined with ligament injuries. The total number of the injured ligament was 35 and the common rupture sites of the injured ligaments was the attachment site of femur (13 cases) and tibia (16 cases). There were seven meniscal injury cases (37%). The interval from injury to operation averaged 14.1 days because many cases were acute injuries. Primary repairs for ruptured ligament were done in 31 cases (88%) because of their attachment site injuries. There were no instabilities except one case which was treated with posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using semitendinosus ligament. It had a grade I posterior instability at the last follow-up. Early diagnosis and proper treatment on the ruptured ligaments and the torn meniscus combined with proximal tibia and fibular fractures seem to be important for a good prognosis.

Femoral Varus Osteotomy for Legg - Calve - Perthes Disease in Children Who Are Less Than 5 Years Old / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Because clinical course of the Legg-Calve'-Perthes disease (LCPD) is varied and unpredictable, it is important that pediatric orthopedists have to know prognostic factors of LCPD in order to choose proper method of treatment. The most universally accepted prognostic factor is the patient's age at the onset of the disease, and most patient's who are less than 5 years old have been treated non-operatively. However, we believe that the extent of involvement of the femoral head is more important in this age group and that operative treatment can get good results in cases of servere head involvement. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of femoral varus osteotomy in patients before the age of 5 years with severe involvement. We reviewed 18 patients (23 hips) who were less than 5 years old with Catterall group III (5 patients, 7 hips) or IV (13 patients, 16 hips) involvement from June 1984 to June 1994. Femoral varus osteotomies were performed in all cases. We followed up more than 2 years (range, from 24 to 130 months) and analysed clinical and radiological results. The results were as follows: 1. The mean duration from onset of the disease to the stage of repair was 16 months (range, from 8 to 27 months). 2. 2 hips (28.6%) in group III and 12 hips (75%) in group IV showed radiographic head at-risk signs. 3. Clinically all hips in group III showed good result. However, among the 16 hips in group IV, 13 hips were rated good and 3 hips were fair. Overall, 20 hips (86.9%) showed good result. 4. Radiologically all hips in group III showed good result, whereas in group IV, 10 hips were rated good and 6 hips were fair. Overall, 17 hips (78.9%) showed good result. We concluded that femoral varus osteotomy in patients less than 5 years old with severe involvement might shorten the course of disease and might be effective method.

Unusual Case of Tuberculosis in Hemodialysis Patient-Tuberculoma Involving Right Atrium / 대한신장학회잡지

There is a high incidence of tuberculosis in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis. Clinical features and laboratory findings are intermittent high fever of unknown origin, weight loss, high ESR and CRP. The diagnosis of tuberculosis in patients with hemodialysis can be difficult due to non specific symptoms, insidious onset, and unusually high frequency of extrapulmonary involvement. Sites of extrapulmonary involvement include mediastinum, meninges, pleura, kidney, peritoneum, and rarely pericardium. We experienced a unusual case of tuberculoma involving the right atrium in a hemodialysis patient. Our initial impression of this case was pericardial effusion. However, chest CT and echocardiography revealed a mass on the right atrium. Exploratory thoracotomy revealed tuberculous granuloma scattered throughout pericardium and tuberculoma involving right atrium. Following the administration of anti Tbc medication, clinical symptoms and signs resolved and follow up chest CT showed significant decrease in the size of the tuberculoma.

A Case of Incessant Ventricular Tachycardia Abolished after Endomyocardial Biopsy

Ventricular tachycardia is an important tachyarrhythmia which is encountered commonly in clinical field. The accompanying manifestations could be variable just from palpitation to sudden cardiac death. The classification of this arrhythmia has not completly settled yet, but in a broad way this arrhythmia is classified according to the prescence or abscence or underlying heart disease, especially coronary artery disease. Recently, therapeutic modalities for this arrhythmia have been changed a lot from classical antiarrhythmic drugs to radiofrequency ablation or ICD implantation although there are still some problems to overcome. We experienced a case of 34-year-old female having an incessant ventricular tacycardia which was abolished after endomyocardial biopsy performed to differentiate underlying myocardial pathology.

Comparison of Coronary Angiographic Findings between Patients with and Those without Stable Angina Pectoris Prior to Acute Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND: Many investigators found that there were more severe and extensive atherosclerosis in patients with stable angina pectoris than those with unheralded acute myocardial infarction(AMI). But coronary angiographic findings in patients with or without stable angina pectoris(SAP) prior to acute myocardial infarction are somewhat controversial. And in many articles that compared the coronary angiographic findings between patients with and those without angina prior to acute myocardial infarction, the definition of angina and significant coronary artery stenosis were not uniform. So, coronary angiographic finding were compared between patients with and those without stable anginal pectoris prior to AMI according to scoring system suggested by Bogarty. METHOD: Coronary angiography was performed in 141 patients with AMI. Angiographic findings of patients with SAP prior to AMI were compared to those without SAP prior to AMI. Risk factors of coronary artery disease were also compared. RESULTS: 1) Numbers of the patients with SAP were 34(24%) and those without SAP were 107(76%). 2) Numbers of stenosed vessels, Numbers of tenosed lesions, extent index and percent of diffuse pattern were higher in SAP group(p<0.05). 3) Numbers of diseased vessels and occluded lesions were not different between two groups(Pvalue was 0.07 and 0.5, respectively). 4) patients with SAP were older than those without SAP(p = 0.03). 5) Sex ratio and prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and smoking were not different between two groups. 6) Lipid profiles were not different between two groups. CONCLUSION: Patients with SAP prior to AMI had more severe and extensive atherosclerosis than those without stable angina pectoris prior to AMI.

Comparison of Coronary Angiographic Findings between Patients with and Those without Stable Angina Pectoris Prior to Acute Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND: Many investigators found that there were more severe and extensive atherosclerosis in patients with stable angina pectoris than those with unheralded acute myocardial infarction(AMI). But coronary angiographic findings in patients with or without stable angina pectoris(SAP) prior to acute myocardial infarction are somewhat controversial. And in many articles that compared the coronary angiographic findings between patients with and those without angina prior to acute myocardial infarction, the definition of angina and significant coronary artery stenosis were not uniform. So, coronary angiographic finding were compared between patients with and those without stable anginal pectoris prior to AMI according to scoring system suggested by Bogarty. METHOD: Coronary angiography was performed in 141 patients with AMI. Angiographic findings of patients with SAP prior to AMI were compared to those without SAP prior to AMI. Risk factors of coronary artery disease were also compared. RESULTS: 1) Numbers of the patients with SAP were 34(24%) and those without SAP were 107(76%). 2) Numbers of stenosed vessels, Numbers of tenosed lesions, extent index and percent of diffuse pattern were higher in SAP group(p<0.05). 3) Numbers of diseased vessels and occluded lesions were not different between two groups(Pvalue was 0.07 and 0.5, respectively). 4) patients with SAP were older than those without SAP(p = 0.03). 5) Sex ratio and prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and smoking were not different between two groups. 6) Lipid profiles were not different between two groups. CONCLUSION: Patients with SAP prior to AMI had more severe and extensive atherosclerosis than those without stable angina pectoris prior to AMI.

A Case of Premature Coronary Atherosclerosis Associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Cardiac involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) is common and has been reported in more than 50% of the patients at the same stage during their illness. SLE can affect the heart in a number of ways;myocarditis, pericarditis, aortic insufficiency, hypertensive heart disease, and coronary arteritis. In recent years, with prolonged survival and improvement in diagnostic modalities, the cardiovascular manifestations of SLE have become more apparent. Coronary artery disease has a number of possible pathogenic mechanisms;atherosclerosis, coronary arteritis, spasm, and hypercoagulability. For management purposes, differentiation between arteritis and artheroslerosis is important. Atherosclerosis in the coronary as well as other vessels appears to be accelerated by SLE. Cardiovascular care to the SLE patients should be emphasized, because corticosteroid treatment and auto-immune mechanisms of SLE are able to promote the atherosclerosis of coronary arteries. We report 36-year-old otherwise healthy female with SLE who presented with severe ischemic heart disease requiring coronary by-pass surgery.

A Primary Cardiac Angiosarcoma

Primary tumors of the heart are rare and the most are benign. Malignant tumors constitute less than 25% of primary cardiac tumors and angiosarcomas are the most commonly reported histologic type. At least 160 cases have been reported in the world, but no previous report in Korea. We reported a case of primary cardiac angiosarcoma located in right atrium.

Pheochromocytoma with Unusual Electrocardiographic Changes and Having Clinical Features of Angina Pectoris : A Case Report

A 50 year old female presented unusual electrocardiographic changes including AV block, accelerated idioventricular rhythm, ventricular premature systole with severe fluctuation of blood pressure and clinical features of angina pectoris. Deep ST segment depression was demonstrated in spite of the normal coronary arteriogram and the negative coronary artery spasm study. Urinary excretion of catecholamines and their metabolites were elevated and a huge pheochromocytoma was found in the left adrenal glandd. After removal of the pheochromocytoma, the electrocardiographic abnormalities and the blood pressure were normalized and teh aptient became asymptomatic.

Ventricular Septal Defect after Acute Myocardial Infarction

From May 1989 to March 1994, 6 patients(2 men and 4 women, mean age 63.5 years[range 57 to 69]) with ventricular septal defect after acute myocardial infarction(MI) were seen at Catholic Medical center. The clinical features were as follows : 1) Neck vein engorgement, hepatomegaly and rale on lung auscultation were noted in 5 patients. 2) The acute MI was anterior in 5 patients and posterior in 1 patients. 3) The sites of rupture were apex in 4 patients, among 5 anterior wall MI patients. 4) Pansystolic murmur was heard on left lower precordial area in all patients. 5) Only 1 patient had a history of typical angina. 6) All VSDs occurred during patients's first heart attack. 7) All patients developed VSDs within 7 days after the onset of chest patin. 8)Among 4 patients who underwent coronary angiogram, 3 patients had multivessel coronary artery disease. 9) 2 patients who underwent operation survived but 4 patients who received only medical treatment expired. 10) The time interval from chest pain to death was 14.7 days(range 6 to 27).

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura-like syndrome associated with systemic lupus erythematosus: combined treatment with plasmapheresis and fresh frozen plasma infusion

We report on a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus, who, during the course of the illness, developed thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. In this case, the coexistence of these two conditions was confirmed by laboratory and pathologic findings. The infusion of fresh frozen plasma with plasmapheresis reversed the course of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Echocardiographic Changes in Cardiac Morphology and Function in Renal Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy is common in chronic renal failure patients and may contribute increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the left ventricular morphology and function in renal transplant recipients to find the relationship between hemodynamic changes and morphologic and functional improvement after transplantation. METHODS: Serial echocardiographic evaluations were performed in 27 adults(20 men and 7 women) at the time of transplantaion and posttransplantation 1 month and 4 months. The average duration of hemodialysis was 16+/-24 months(mean+/-S.D.). RESULTS: At the time of transplantation, the hematocrit level was 21+/-6% and posttransplantation 1 month and 4 months, that was increased to 39+/-5% and 42+/-7%, respectively(p<0.001). Left ventricular mass index by echocardiography was decreased significantly from 246+/-87g/m2(pre-KT) to 169+/-38g/m2(post-KT 1 month) and 153+/-40g/m2(post-KT 4 months), respectively (p<0.001). Interventricular septal thickness and left ventricular posterior wall thickness were decreased significantly after 4 months of transplantation. Left ventricular systolic and diastolic dimensions were also decreased significantly after 1 month and 4 months of transplantation. Left ventricular volumes and cardiac output were also decreased significantly. But A/E ratio, ejection fraction and fractional shortening did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: These findings showed that pretransplant high output state was resolved radipidly(within 1 month) but the diastolic function did not improved after transplantation 1 month and 4 months.

In vitro effects of some antifungal agents on the chemotaxis and phagocytosis response of human neutrophils / 감염

No abstract available.