ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Intrapulmonary vascular dilatations (IPVDs) are a criterion for the diagnosis of hepatopulmonary syndrome in patients with liver cirrhosis. We aimed to show that IPVDs are more common than suspected in a heterogenous cirrhotic population and to identify new diagnostic parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-three consecutive patients with cirrhosis admitted to our Gastroenterology department were included in this prospective study. History, physical examination, ECG and, when warranted, pulmonary function tests and chest radiograph were used to exclude patients with significant cardiac or pulmonary disease. Contrast enhanced transthoracic echocardiography (CEE) was used to determine the presence of IPVDs. Pulse oximetry readings were taken in the supine and standing positions. RESULTS: We found 12 patients with IPVDs. Statistical analysis proved the correlation between IPVDs and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) (p= .049), right ventricle wall width (RVW) (p = .013) and E/A ratio (p = .034) but not left atrial or ventricular diameter. Orthodeoxia was also present more frequently in patients with positive CEE. The difference between supine and standing oxygen saturation (changeSat) proved a fair diagnostic test for detecting IPVDs, with an area under the receiver operated curve (AUROC) of 0.823. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that RVW, sPAP, E/A and orthodeoxia determined by pulse oximetry are valuable novel predictors of IPVDs, encouraging the routine use of pulse oximetry and echocardiography in cirrhotic patients.
Subject(s)
Echocardiography/methods , Hepatopulmonary Syndrome/diagnostic imaging , Liver Cirrhosis/complications , Oximetry/methods , Pulmonary Artery/diagnostic imaging , Pulmonary Veins/diagnostic imaging , Dilatation, Pathologic/diagnostic imaging , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Hepatopulmonary Syndrome/etiology , Hepatopulmonary Syndrome/physiopathology , Humans , Lung/blood supply , Male , Middle Aged , Prognosis , Prospective Studies , Respiratory Function TestsABSTRACT
Isolated noncompaction of the left ventricle (LV) is a rare disorder, classified as a primary genetic cardiomyopathy by the American Heart Association. The European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Myocardial and Pericardial Diseases classified LV noncompaction as an unclassified cardiomyopathy. LV noncompaction cardiomyopathy characterized by the following features: 1) an altered myocardial wall with prominent trabeculae and deep intertrabecular recesses resulting in thickened myocardium with two layers, consisting of compacted and noncompacted myocardium and 2) continuity between the left ventricular cavity and the deep intertrabecular recesses, which are filled with blood from the ventricular cavity, without evidence of communication with the epicardial coronary artery system. Features of LV noncompaction can overlap with dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (especially the apical variant), and restrictive cardiomyopathy. The phenotypic expression can vary considerably within the same family. The LV noncompaction can rarely occur as a transient phenomenon during myocarditis. We present the case of a 23-year-old patient, admitted to our Department for cardiac evaluation because of ECG changes and cardiac enlargement revealed at thoracic radiography. She had a history of chronic toxoplasmosis. An echocardiography was performed revealing left ventricular enlargement with severe systolic and diastolic dysfunction, diffuse hypokinesia and signs of isolated left ventricular non-compaction. Under these circumstances, we have considered the presence of isolated left ventricular non-compaction. A cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging was performed and it sustained the diagnosis. The alternative cause of isolated left ventricular noncompaction (prominent trabeculation due to myocardial toxoplasmosis) was considered improbable.
Subject(s)
Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/etiology , Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/pathology , Isolated Noncompaction of the Ventricular Myocardium/diagnosis , Isolated Noncompaction of the Ventricular Myocardium/pathology , Toxoplasmosis/complications , Diagnosis, Differential , Echocardiography , Female , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Young AdultABSTRACT
Over the last 10 years, we have investigated a particular type of bioengineered nerve guide, the muscle-vein-combined tube, which is made by filling a vein with skeletal muscle. In our previous studies we have always used fresh skeletal muscle to fill vein conduits. In the present study we compared the use of fresh and predegenerated (freeze-thawed) skeletal muscle for muscle-vein-combined nerve guides. In this study, a 10-mm-long rat median nerve defect was repaired using either type of nerve guide. The samples were analyzed 5 and 30 days after surgery by light and electron microscopy. In addition, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was carried out to investigate the expression of mRNAs coding for glial markers, as well as glial growth factor (NRG1) and its receptors (erbB2 and erbB3). Results showed differences between the two types of nerve guides at postoperative day 5; however, no difference was detected at day 30 suggesting that both types of tissue-engineered conduit are effective for repairing peripheral nerve defects in this experimental model.
