ABSTRACT
AIM: To investigate cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived parameters to determine a convenient index reflecting the degree of pulmonary regurgitation (PR) after Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-three patients (age at CMR study, 23.6 [10.2-34.7] years, 55.6% male) underwent CMR after TOF repair. PR was quantified using ventricular stroke volume difference and phase-contrast mapping of the main pulmonary artery flow. In both approaches, the PRV index (PRVI) and the PR fraction (PRF) were calculated and correlated to the right ventricle end-diastolic volume index (RVEDVI) and the right ventricle end-systolic volume index (RVESVI). RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was observed between the PR volumes and the PRF measured by the stroke volume difference or the phase-contrast method. The PRVI was better correlated to RVEDVI and RVESVI than the PRF. CONCLUSION: The PRVI exhibits more correlation to the RVEDVI than PRF. Thus, it could be a preferable parameter to reflect the PR burden.
Subject(s)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Postoperative Complications/diagnostic imaging , Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency/diagnostic imaging , Tetralogy of Fallot/surgery , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Pulmonary Valve/diagnostic imaging , Reproducibility of Results , Young AdultABSTRACT
Male factor infertility, being a complex and heterogeneous disorder, precludes any reliance on a single laboratory test and requires broad spectrum assessment. Sociobiological factors also influence the parameters. In this context we examined serum concentrations of nine hormones in infertile and fertile male Makkans. Infertility was implicated in 21% of the population with correlated abnormalities of gonadotrophins, thyroid, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and testosterone. Hypothyroidism was established in 35% and hyperthyroidism in 14% of the infertile population, where 28% of thyroid abnormality constituted an independent infertile group. Hyperprolactinaemia associated with low levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone signifies a cluster of 28%, while 14% of testosterone deficiency alone was causal for infertility. However, infertility in 9% of the patients examined might have been psychogenic in nature. We present a responder panel based on cluster analysis.
