Evaluation of Left Ventricular Longitudinal, Radial, and Circumferential Strains in Subjects with Normal Variations of Coronary Dominance: A Preliminary Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the contractile function of the left ventricular muscles in subjects with normal coronary artery and normal variations of coronary dominance. METHODS: This study was performed on 90 adult subjects with normal results of coronary arteries angiography, echocardiography, and electrocardiography. The participants were categorized into 3 groups of 30 with right-dominant, left-dominant, and codominant variations. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography was performed with apical 2-, 3-, and 4-chamber views and parasternal basal, mid, and apical short-axis views. Then, images were analyzed offline using the velocity vector imaging method. In all studied groups, the mean and standard deviation of left ventricle coronary territorial longitudinal, circumferential, radial strains, and left ventricle global strains were determined. They were compared in 3 layers of sub-endocardial, myocardium, and sub-epicardial. RESULTS: In terms of longitudinal and circumferential strains, there were significant differences in the most coronary territories and global strain among the right-dominant, left-dominant and codominant groups (P < .05). No significant differences in terms of territorial and global radial strains were observed among the study groups (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Strain level decreased from endocardium to epicardium in all studied groups. Territorial and global contractile functions (longitudinal and circumferential strains) of the left ventricle vary depending on the variations of coronary arteries.

Seroprevalence of Brucellosis among high risk individuals in Guilan, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Brucellosis is a major public health problem in developing countries and has remained endemic in Iran. The aim of this study was to investigate the Seroprevalence of Brucellosis among high risk individuals in Guilan, Iran. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 478 blood samples from people living in rural areas (n = 292) and 186 slaughterhouse workers were screened by slide agglutination and microplate agglutination tests. Seropositive specimens were analyzed with Elisa for IgG and IgM antibody. RESULTS: Seroprevalence of brucellosis among slaughterhouse workers and the people living in rural areas were 9.8% (n = 18) and 5.5% (n = 16), respectively (p = 0.04). A significant association was observed between the seropositivity and type of abattoir (p = 0.04) and contact with animals (p = 0.02) among slaughterhouse workers as well as consumption of unpasteurized milk products (p = 0.02) in people living in rural areas. IgG antibodies titer was higher than IgM in seropositive cases of the slaughterhouse workers and the people living in rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: Seroprevalence of brucellosis in slaughterhouse workers was higher than people living in rural areas. Consumption of raw products and direct contact with domestic animals were found to be significant risk factor for brucellosis. High titer of IgG antibody among the two study groups indicated that most seropositive subjects were in chronic phase of brucellosis.