ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the clinical significance of atrial septal aneurysm(ASA)and the value of echocardiography in detecting ASA. Methods One hundred and fifty-one patients with ASA diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) or transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) were analyzed retrospectively.The patients were divided into two groups:group Ⅰ included 57 patients who had experience of transient ischaemic attack(TIA)or cerebral shock and group Ⅱ included 94 age-and sexmatched patients without those cerebral ischemic event who underwent echocardiography during the same period of time. The following parameters of the ASA were measured:maximal excursion or protrusionbeyond the plane of the atrial septum,direction of protrusion,thickness of the wall,presence of theombi attaching to the wall and other structural abnormalities associated with ASA. Results One hundred and thirty-two of 151 cases(87.42%) located at fossa ovalis of atrial septum. The wall thickness of ASA increased with depth.The extent of bulging and thinkness of wall in group Ⅰ were greater than those in group Ⅱ and more patent foramen ovale(PFO)were observed in group Ⅰ. However,no difference was found in direction of protrusion and incidence of oscillations between the two groups. As to the performance of the two techniques in the evaluation of ASA,TEE showed better result than TTE. Conclusions Echocardiography is a reliable means to detect ASA and its complications. Greater maximal excursion and thicker aneurysm wall of ASA is associated with a higher risk of cerebral ischaemic event.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship of TCM Syndromes, involving Viscera Syndrome and involving Meridian Syndrome, with blood hypercoagulative state and insulin resistance in patients with diabetic ischemic stroke.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Insulin sensitivity index (ISI) could reflect the insulin resistance, and those reflecting blood hypercoagulative state parameters such as platelet agglutination test (PAgT), fibrinogen (FG), in vitro thrombus length (VTL) and activating partial thrombinogen time (APTT), were used to expound and prove the relationship with the stroke syndrome.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The symptom scores, PAgT, VTL, FG levels in patients involved with Viscera Syndromes (including those of Wind Syndrome, Phlegm-Dampness Syndrome, Heat-Fire Syndrome and Yin-deficiency with Yang-excess Syndrome) were significantly higher than those in patients involved with Meridian Syndromes (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while the ISI level in the former was lower than that in the latter (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There is close relationship between blood hypercoagulative state, insulin resistance and TCM Stroke Syndromes in patients with diabetic ischemic stroke.</p>