effect of slow coronary flow on right and left ventricular performance

To evaluate left and right ventricular functions using tissue Doppler echocardiography [TDE] and myocardial performance index [MPI] methods in patients with slow coronary flow [SCF] and to determine the relationship between these parameters and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count in SCF patients. Thirty-five patients [20 males and 15 females] with SCF who underwent coronary angiography and 35 age- and sex-matched controls [14 males and 21 females] without SCF who underwent elective coronary angiography were enrolled in the study. Left ventricular [LV] and right ventricular [RV] functions were examined using conventional echocardiography and TDE. LV systolic myocardial velocity [Sm], early myocardial velocity [Em], late myocardial velocity [Am], and Em/Am ratio were similar in both the SCF and control groups; however, isovolumetric relaxation time [IRT] was higher in the SCF group compared to the control group [IRT: 99 +/- 17 vs. 88 +/- 20; p = 0.01]. In patients with SCF, LV MPI was higher than in the control group, but this was not statistically significant [0.61 +/- 0.11 vs. 0.56 +/- 0.12; p = 0.07]. The RV tricuspid annular velocities and MPI were similar in the SCF and control groups. This study showed that SCF affected LV functions echocardiographically and could cause partially reduced LV performance. In addition, SCF did not affect RV functions echocardiographically

Serum immunoglobulins and immunoglobulin G subclasses with recurrent wheezing.

In this study serum immunoglobulins (Ig) and IgG subclasses were measured in 42 patients (ranging 9 month-6 year) with recurrent wheezing and in 37 healthy children determined the relationship between serum Igs and recurrent wheezing. Patients were divided into two groups according to the age [9 month-2 year (n: 15), and 2-6 year (n: 27)]. In the patients placed in 9-24 month age group, serum IgG4 level was found to be lower than controls (p < 0.05). But there was not a significant difference in mean serum concentrations of total IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 subclasses between the groups (P > 0.05). In the 25 month-6 year age group the mean IgE level was increased compared to the control while IgG3 and IgG4 levels were decreased (p < 0.05). On the other hand, in the 9-24 month age group there was no significant difference between the patients and controls for IgG subclasses deficiency (P > 0.05). However, significant difference in IgG subclasses deficiency was present between the patients and controls in the 25 month-6 year group (P < 0.001). In conclusion, our findings suggest that wheezing in childhood may be associated with low IgG3 and/or IgG4, and in older children high IgE level may be a part of pathogenetic mechanism in patients with recurrent wheezing.