RESUMO
Objectives: To observe the phenomenon of transient expansion of right heart during contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) by SonoVue?ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) in Chinese experimental mini-pig , and to explore the possible causes of this phenomenon. Methods: 24 healthy Chinese experimental mini-pigs were randomly divided into 3 groups according to the dose of injected contrast agent: 2 ml group (n=8), 1 ml group (n=8) and 0.5 ml group (n=8). Cardiac structure and function at baseline and during contrast procedure were determined by contrast-enhanced echocardiography. Pigs in each group received bolus contrast agent injection followed by 5ml saline flush with baseline concentration, 2, 4 and 6-fold serial dilutions, respectively. When the right heart enlargement appeared, stop the injection and next injection followed after the right heart returned its original size. The study protocols discontinued at the time when the right heart enlargement did not appear post injection. Results: In 2 ml group, the number of right heart enlargement with different injection concentrations was 7, 6, 4, 3, respectively; in 1 ml group, the number of right heart enlargement with different injection concentrations was 6, 5, 3, 1; in 0.5 ml group, the number of right heart enlargement with different injection concentrations was 5, 5, 2, and 0, respectively. Incidence of right heart enlargement decreased in proportion with lower contrast agent amount, and lower contrast concentration(P<0.001). The right heart enlargement phenomenon occurred at about (26±15) s after the injection and lasted for about (47±21) s. Conclusions:Transient expansion of right heart phenomenon is common by bolus injection of contrast agent during CEUS in the Chinese mini-pigs, which may be related to the injected concentration and dosage of the contrast agent, as well as the injection mode and animal species.
RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the quality of life in patients with post-traumatic epilepsy and discuss the influencing factors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We assessed 105 patients with post-traumatic epilepsy and 100 healthy people as control using Quality of Life Scale-31 (QOL-31), Self-rating Depressing Scale (SDS) and Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and conducted retrospective analysis on the depression, anxiety, site of trauma, control of seizure, EEG and therapeutic compliance.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Patients with post-traumatic epilepsy scored much lower than the control group on QOL-31 (P less than 0.01), but higher than the control group on SDS and SAS (P less than 0.01). Multiple regression analysis indicated that major influencing factors on the quality of life were anxiety, therapeutic compliance, depression, poor control of epileptic seizure and site of trauma.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The quality of life in patients with post-traumatic epilepsy has significantly declined. Doctors should pay attention to psychological and mental problems of patients with epilepsy, such as depression and anxiety, enhancing therapeutic compliance and controlling epileptic seizure, which are the keys to improving prognosis.</p>