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Objective We aimed to evaluate fetal left modified myocardial performance index and renal artery Doppler parameter in fetuses with isolated oligohydramnios and normal amount of amniotic fluid. Material and methods In a prospective cohort study, 25 pregnancies with isolated oligohydramnios and 25 healthy gestational age matched controls between 24+0 to 36+6 weeks of gestation were recruited. Primary outcome was to compare left modified myocardial performance index and mean fetal renal artery PI and secondary outcome was to compare adverse perinatal outcomes between the groups. Results Mean modified myocardial performance index was significantly higher and isovolumetric relaxation time was longer in the isolated oligohydramnios group (p=0.001, p=0.009). Mean renal artery PI values were not different between the groups. Birthweight and gestational age at birth were significantly lower (p=0.041, p=0.001), and incidences of delivery before 37 weeks and Cesarean section due to non-reassuring fetal heart rate testing were significantly higher (p=0.034, p=0.021) in women with isolated oligohydramnios than the control group. We found no significant relationship between modified myocardial performance index and adverse perinatal outcomes. Conclusion Fetuses with isolated oligohydramnios have increased left modified myocardial performance index which may be due to mild cardiac diastolic dysfunction. Increased modified myocardial performance index is not associated with adverse perinatal outcomes and does not seem to help in the management of pregnancies before 37 weeks of gestation with isolated oligohydramnios.

This study examines the feasibility of blood speckle tracking for vector flow imaging in healthy adults and describes the physiologic flow pattern and vortex formation in relation to the wall motion in the left ventricle. The study included 21 healthy volunteers and quantified and visualized flow patterns with high temporal resolution down to a depth of 10-12 cm without the use of contrast agents. Intraventricular flow seems to originate during the isovolumetric relaxation with a propagation of blood from base to apex. With the E-wave, rapid inflow and vortex formation occurred on both sides of the valve basally. During diastasis the flow gathers in a large vortex before the pattern from the E-wave repeats during the A-wave. In isovolumetric contraction, the flow again gathers in a large vortex that seems to facilitate the flow out in the aorta during systole. No signs of a persistent systolic vortex were visualized. The geometry of the left ventricle and the movement of the AV-plane is important in creating vortices that are favorable for the blood flow and facilitate outflow. The quantitative measurements are in concordance with these findings, but the clinical interpretation must be evaluated in future clinical studies.

Objective The focus of this study is to model the cardiovascular system (CS) involving regional skin blood flow (SBF) to gain new insights into the skin-CS relationship. Methods A lumped parameter model with a series of electrical components was developed to model the CS involving SBF. Four parts were considered: the heart, arterial circulation, microcirculation (including the skin and other tissues), and the venous system. The model was validated based on previous publications. Additionally, the body surface was divided into seven blocks replaced by lumped resistances in this model, including the head, upper limbs and neck, chest and back, anterolateral abdomen, posterior abdomen, lower limbs, and buttocks. The SBF of each block was described using a weighted average method (relative ratio of cutaneous blood perfusion and regional body surface area) Results Cardiodynamics characterized the properties of cardiac cycles, including isovolumic contraction, accelerated ejection, decelerated ejection, isovolumic diastole, and filling phases. Blood flow and pulse pressure in the arterial trunk declined and increased, respectively, from the aorta root to the distal portion, exhibiting normal cardiovascular properties. Accordingly, the blood pressure of the arterial branches attached to the arterial trunk also satisfied normal physiological characteristics; the blood flow of all the arterial branches exhibited good agreement with previous studies. Additionally, the modeled SBF of each region was consistent with the data from the weighted average method. Conclusion This model effectively demonstrates the normal properties of the CS that involves regional SBF and may be promising in the prediction of the skin-CS relationship.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate left myocardial performance index (MPI) and its time intervals in monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pairs complicated by selective fetal growth restriction (sFGR) with abnormal (persistent -type II- or intermittent -type III- absent or reversed end-diastolic flow) umbilical artery Doppler. METHODS Retrospective study including 16 MCDA twin pairs with sFGR type II, 26 MCDA twin pairs with sFGR type III and 42 gestational age-matched uncomplicated MCDA twin pairs in a single tertiary center. Left isovolumetric contraction time (ICT), ejection time (ET), and isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT) were measured and MPI calculated by conventional Doppler at diagnosis of sFGR. RESULTS In sFGR type II, the smaller twin had shorter ET and prolonged IRT and MPI, while the larger twin showed prolonged ICT and MPI as compared to uncomplicated MCDA twins. In sFGR type III, the smaller twin had shorter ICT and ET, while the larger twin showed prolonged ICT, IRT, and MPI in comparison to controls. CONCLUSION A differential pattern of MPI time intervals could be observed in MCDA twins with sFGR type II and III. All twins had echocardiographic signs of pressure/volume overload, except the smaller twin type III with shorter systolic times probably reflecting reduced volume load.

Background: Bronchial asthma is a chronic airway disease. Cardiac affection in children with bronchial asthma was reported mainly in cases with severe asthma and during acute exacerbations. Aim of the Work: To study cardiac affection in children with mild and moderate bronchial asthma using conventional and tissue Doppler imaging [TDI] echocardiography. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective case control study. Study involved 160 children aged 6-14 years old who were following in outpatient pediatric clinic, Al-Hussein hospital, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt, during the period from January 4, 2016, till February 15, 2017. All children underwent peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR] assessment. Echocardiography was done for all to assess systolic and diastolic functions of right ventricle [RV] and left ventricle [LV] using conventional and tissue Doppler imaging [TDI] echocardiography. Results: TDI parameters showed evidence of RV diastolic dysfunction in patients with moderate asthma in the form of significantly lower tricuspid valve [TV] e’ [12.1 ± 2.7 cm/s], lower TV e’/a’ ratio [1.28 ± 0.18], prolonged RV isovolumetric relaxation time [IVRT] [71.8 ± 2.4 ms], and higher RV myocardial performance index [0.49 ± 0.04] compared to control group. Also, patients with mild asthma had impaired RV diastolic function in the form of significantly lower TV e’/a’ [1.51 ± 0.13] and longer RV IVRT [65 ± 2.9 ms] compared to control group. Pulmonary artery pressure was significantly elevated in moderate asthma group [18.4 ± 9.2 mmHg]. RV IVRT was the only parameter showing a significant negative correlation to PEFR Conclusion: Pediatric patients with mild and moderate bronchial asthma may have RV diastolic dysfunction. TDI is a good screening tool to detect early changes in cardiac function in such patients. RV IVRT measured by TDI is a sensitive tool to detect early diastolic impairment.

The formation of vortex rings in the left ventricular (LV) blood flow is a mechanism for optimized blood transport from the mitral valve inlet to aortic valve outlet, and the vorticity is an important measure of a well-functioning LV. However, due to lack of quantitative methods, the process of defining the boundary of a vortex in the LV and identifying the dominant vortex components has not been studied previously. The Lagrangian-averaged vorticity deviation (LAVD) can enable us to compute the trajectory integral of the normed difference of the vorticity from its spatial mean. Therefore, in this work, we have employed LAVD to identify the Lagrangian vortices and Eulerian vortices for measuring the vortex volume and vorticity in the LV blood flow. We found that during the LV ejection period, the positive (counterclockwise) and negative (clockwise) vorticity of patients are consistently stronger than those of the healthy groups, and the counterclockwise vortex volume of healthy groups (0.84+0.26 ml) is greater than that of patients (0.55+0.28 ml) during the pre-ejection period. Then, during the middle ejection phase, the counterclockwise vortex ring volume of patients (1.89+0.36 ml) exceeds that of healthy groups (1.38+0.43 ml). Finally, during the end-ejection period, the counterclockwise vortex ring volume of healthy subjects (0.61+0.17 ml) is the same as that of patients (0.60+0.19 ml). The results presented in this paper can provide new insights into the blood flow patterns within the LV. It can accurately indicate the role of vortices and vorticity values in intra-LV flow, and portray how cardiomyopathy (and its distorted contractile mechanism) can affect intra-LV flow patterns and mitigate adequate LV outflow.

In 2004 Griffiths published: “Detrusor Contractility: Order Out of Chaos” [1]. It was a critical assessment of the many competing ways of assessing detrusor contractility in the urodynamic clinic. Different isovolumetric methods and pressure flow studies were considered.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the impact of abnormal perinatal loading conditions on cardiac geometry and function in term fetuses and neonates with transposition of the great arteries with intact interventricular septum (simple TGA), and to explore the predictive value of fetal cardiac parameters for an urgent balloon atrial septostomy (BAS) after birth. METHODS This was a prospective longitudinal follow-up study of women delivering at term, including both uncomplicated pregnancies with normal outcome and pregnancies affected by fetal simple TGA. Conventional, spectral-tissue Doppler and speckle-tracking echocardiographic parameters were obtained within 1 week before delivery and within the first few hours after delivery. Neonates with simple TGA that required urgent BAS were assessed after the procedure and before corrective arterial switch surgery. Cardiac parameters were normalized by cardiac cycle length, ventricular end-diastolic length or end-diastolic dimension, as appropriate. Fetal and neonatal cardiac parameters were compared between simple-TGA cases and controls, and perinatal changes in the simple-TGA group were assessed. Receiver-operating-characteristics (ROC)-curve analysis was used to assess the predictive value of fetal cardiac parameters for urgent BAS after birth in the simple-TGA group. RESULTS A total of 67 pregnant women delivering at term were included in the study (54 normal pregnancies and 13 with a diagnosis of fetal simple TGA). Compared with normal term fetuses, term fetuses with simple TGA exhibited more globular hypertrophied ventricles, increased biventricular systolic function and diastolic dysfunction (right ventricular (RV) sphericity index (SI), 0.58 vs 0.54; left ventricular (LV)-SI, 0.55 vs 0.49; combined cardiac output (CCO), 483 vs 406 mL/min/kg; LV torsion, 4.3 vs 3.0 deg/cm; RV isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT'), 127 vs 102 ms; P

Compare the intraventricular hemodynamics of 60 females with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 61 healthy female controls, and determine cardiac function changes using vector flow mapping (VFM).To determine the effect of pulmonary artery pressure changes on left ventricular function, SLE patients were divided into a normal pulmonary artery pressure group (S1, n=24) and an elevated pulmonary artery pressure group (S2, n=36). The energy loss (EL) at each segment of the left ventricular chamber (total, basal, middle, and apical segments) during each period of the cardiac cycle (isovolumic contraction, rapid ejection, rapid filling, reduced filling, atrial contraction) was determined.The S1 group had significantly more vortices than the control group during the rapid ejection, rapid filling, and atrial contraction periods (p0.01), and the maximum vortex areas in the S1 and S2 groups were smaller than in the control group during rapid filling and atrial contraction periods (p0.05). Compared with the control group, the S2 group had greater EL during the systole and diastole periods (p0.01). EL in the S1 group was significantly greater than in the control group during systole (p0.01). During the rapid filling period, the EL was positively correlated with septal E' (r=0.784, p0.01), and during the atrial contraction period, EL was positively correlated with septal E/e' (r=0.812, p0.01) and A (r=0.715, p0.01).VFM of patients with SLE can comprehensively, rapidly, and efficiently evaluate changes of myocardial mechanics and intracardiac hemodynamics and provide quantitative analysis of complex intracardiac blood flow. Key points • Vector flow mapping (VFM) is a new non-invasive ultrasound technique that evaluates changes of myocardial mechanics and intracardiac hemodynamics, and provides quantitative analysis of complex intracardiac blood flow. • This study showed that vortex and energy loss may provide more sensitive detection of cardiac dysfunction than conventional echocardiographic indexes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

To evaluate the age of caval thrombus that experimentally induced in swine by use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Caval thrombus was experimentally created in 15 swine by autologous clot injection assisted with caval net knitting. Serial high-resolution MR images were obtained using magnetic resonance venography (MRV) and T1 high-resolution isotropic volume examination (THRIVE) sequences in a 3.0-T MR system at 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post model creation. At each time point, three pigs were sacrificed and the thrombotic vena cava was processed for histopathological examinations respectively. Caval thrombus was successfully induced in 15 pigs in group A. The signal intensity (SI) change of caval thrombus on THRIVE was age-dependent, with a typical sign of circle or semi-circle hyper-intensity at 7-day-old model while SI of thrombus was lower than that of muscle from day 14 throughout day 28. The histo-pathological findings revealed that RBCs-rich thrombus at day 1 without blue-stained particles, RBCs layers with infiltration of inflammatory cells and sporadically distributed blue-stained particles at 7-day-old thrombus. At day 14, 21 and 28, blue-stained particles became richer, coupled with formation of granulation tissue and fibrous tissue. The swine model in the study is good for age evaluation of venous thrombosis. The peripheral circle or semi-circle hyperintensity on THRIVE indicates the young age of caval thrombus in swine.

Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate fetal cardiac systolic and diastolic function using the tissue Doppler technique in pregnancies with complications of fetal growth restriction (FGR) and to examine the relationship between FGR with umbilical artery Doppler parameters and fetal cardiac function in complicated pregnancies. Material and methods: This study included 30 pregnant women with FGR complications and 46 pregnant women without FGR complications. Both groups were at 24–34 gestational weeks. Fetal cardiac examination was performed using pulsed Doppler and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in all pregnancies. In the analysis of myocardial tissue by tissue Doppler, the tracing obtained from the junction of the tricuspid valve annulus with the right ventricle was recorded by measuring the duration of the isovolumetric contraction wave (IVC), ejection time (ET), and isovolumetric relaxation time (IVR). Furthermore, we calculated the myocardial performance index (MPI) and then measured and recorded the early diastolic annular rate. Results: Based on the TDI studies, the mean IVC and IVR values were significantly longer and the ET values were significantly shorter in the study group than those in the control group. The study group also had significantly longer MPI measurements. Conclusions: Because TDI is a considerably more sensitive method than cardiac sonographic evaluation using pulsed Doppler, tissue Doppler parameters facilitate the detection of cardiac dysfunction at a relatively early stage. In addition, TDI and myocardial evaluation in fetuses with FGR can be noninvasively performed in clinical practice.

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) represents more than one half of the heart failure (HF) cases worldwide with increased morbidity and mortality. No proven medical treatment till now has shown mortality benefit in HFpEF. This study aims to elucidate the benefit of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in HFpEF.Methods: 60 patients with HFpEF included in 2 groups with 1:1 randomization. The first group (the rehabilitation group) received usual medical care plus 2-3 rehabilitation sessions per week for 12 weeks using moderate intensity exercise with 40-75% of heart rate reserve on treadmill (up to 60 minutes according to the functional capacity). The second group (the control group) received only usual medical care. Comparison between the 2 groups using the percentage of improvement in echocardiographic diastolic function parameters, Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire (MLWHFQ) and 6 -minute walk test at baseline and after 12 weeks.Results: we found statistically significant difference between the two groups in favor of the rehabilitation group in the following parameters: a. MLWHFQ (total score mean percentage of reduction) 305.60 ± 158.44 versus (vs.) 69.44 ± 17.71 (p < 0.001). b. E/e` mean percentage of reduction 65.96 ± 34.55 vs. 18.23 ± 13.98 (p < 0.001). c. Left atrial volume index (LAVI) mean percentage of reduction 27.86 ± 13.27 vs. 8.03 ± 4.40 (p < 0.001). d. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure mean percentage of reduction was 33.85 ± 14.68 vs. 22.97 ± 16.54 (p=0.02). e. 6–minute walk test 111.79 ± 40.97 vs. 46.33 ± 11.58 (p < 0.001). f. Body mass index percentage of reduction 10.17 ± 3.64 vs. 2.80 ± 1.60 p < 0.001. g. Percentage of patients with down-grading of the grade of diastolic dysfunction 10 patients (33.3%) vs. 3 patients (10%) (P=0.028). h. No significant difference in left ventricular ejection fraction or other parameters as E/A ratio, left atrial dimension , isovolumetric relaxation time, degree of left ventricular hypertrophy.Conclusion: Cardiac rehabilitation not only added significant functional improvement in the quality of life and functional capacity but also a significant structural improvement by improving the core items of diastolic function. In the Light of this study, we recommend exercise training based cardiac rehabilitation in HFpEF management

Pressure-volume loops and the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship (Emax and V0) are important measures of biventricular function. To overcome the need for invasive preload reduction, methods using only a single PV-loop have been suggested. In this systematic review, we collected, categorized, and analyzed all currently available single beat estimation (SBE) methods to investigate their current validation state. Two independent investigators systematically searched databases up to 22/03/2019. All papers describing a new SBE method in the left or right ventricle were selected. Cohen’s kappa coefficient for inter-rater reliability was 0.89. A total of 6330 papers were screened, and 24 unique methodologies of single beat ventricular contractility evaluation were identified. Only 4 papers examined the right ventricle. We could divide the proposed methodologies into three groups: 13 studies were based on the isovolumetric pressure (Piso) principle, 6 papers used time-varying elastance to mathematically calculate ESPVR and the remaining studies were based on the principle of myocardial stiffness, an elastic-resistive model, or studied preload recruitable stroke. Although all studies reported encouraging results for their developed method, we only found two reports of head-to-head comparison and overall only 6 out of the 24 described methodologies were evaluated. Both groups showed a poor correlation and an important lack of precision between the novel SBE methods and gold standard pressure-volume loops analysis. The present findings indicate a need for external validation of the numerous existing SBE techniques of ventricular contractility. At present, SBE methods should be used with the utmost care in clinical research.

Backgrounds Assessment of left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP) is of clinical importance in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Although several echocardiographic parameters are recommended for the assessment of LVFP, validation of these parameters in patients with STEMI is missing. We aimed to investigate the clinical utility of these parameters in acute settings. Methods: We prospectively included consecutive patients with STEMI. LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was measured following primary PCI and echocardiographic examination was performed within 24 hours. Mean left atrial pressure (mLAP) was calculated both invasively using Yamamoto’s formula and non-invasively using Naugeh’s formula. Mean LAP was considered increased when exceeded 18 mmHg. Results: Patients were grouped according to LVEDP, group 1(41 patients) and group 2(114 patients).There was no significant difference between groups in terms of comorbidities. NT pro-BNP levels (p

Objectives The subject of our analysis is the influence of umbilical cord collision around the fetal neck on the fetal heart function and cerebral circulation. Methods Our study was carried out on a group of 115 fetuses from single pregnancies with physiological course, during the 15th to 40th week of pregnancy. In our analysis, we examined the following parameters: Tei index for right ventricle, Tei index for left ventricle with Tei index components: isovolumetric contraction time, isovolumetric relaxation time, ejection time and cardiothoracic area ratio, middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity (PS MCA), middle cerebral artery pulsatility index (PI MCA). Gestational age in our study was: 28+2±34. The study group of patients with fetal umbilical cord around neck group (fUCAN) included 38 fetuses (20 males, 18 females). The control group of patients with no fetal umbilical cord around neck group (NfUCAN) included 77 fetuses (43 males, 34 females). Results In our study, we found no significant differences in the values obtained: Tei LV in fUCAN: 0.5±0.1 vs. in NfUCAN: 0.5±0.1; p=0.42), Tei RV in fUCAN: 0.5±0.2 vs. in NfUCAN: 0.4±0.1; (p=0.2). Tricuspid valve regurgitation-TR was observed with the following frequency: fUCAN: 7/38, 18% vs. NfUCAN: 13/77, 17%; p=0.8. MCA PS in study fUCAN group was significantly higher than in NfUCAN (40.2±11.5 vs. 32.5±9.5; p=0.003), although other hemodynamic and clinical variables did not differ between the study and control groups. Conclusions The fetal nuchal umbilical cord collision did not affect the fetal heart function expressed as Tei index, at the time of fetal heart examination (at mean gestational age 29+4 weeks). The fUCAN group presented elevated PS MCA, which was not related to other hemodynamic and clinical variables between the study and control groups.

Introduction A total of 161 million children a year are growth restricted, leading to a 47% increased risk of chronic disease in adulthood. Physical activity (PA) reduces the risk of mortality from chronic disease. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the effect of a PA intervention (wheel running) on cardiac and skeletal muscle capacities in gestational (GUN) and postnatal (PUN) growth-restricted mice as compared with nonrestricted controls (CON). Methods A low-protein cross-fostering FVB mouse model was used to induce growth restriction during gestation and the first 21 d of postnatal life. Mouse pups were recovered on a healthy diet until mature and provided wheel access for 3 wk. At completion of the PA intervention, mice underwent maximal exercise testing on a treadmill, echocardiography, and skeletal muscle histology. Results After the PA intervention, CON mice had a 45% improvement in maximal exercise capacity (P = 0.0390) because of cardiac and skeletal muscle adaptations, but GUN and PUN mice did not. Alarmingly, PUN female mice exposed to wheels had 11.45% lower left ventricular volume (P = 0.0540) and 18% lower left ventricle area (P = 0.0585), with blood flow velocities indicative of cardiac fibrosis (GUN had elevated isovolumetric contraction time P = 0.0374; GUN females and PUN males had longer isovolumetric relaxation time P = 0.0703). PUN male mice had mixed skeletal muscle responses with an oxidative shift in the diaphragm (P = 0.0162) but a glycolytic shift in the extensor digitorum longus (P = 0.0647). PUN female mice had a glycolytic shift in the soleus after wheel running. Conclusions Unexpectedly, growth-restricted mice were nonresponders to a PA intervention and displayed negative cardiac outcomes.

The callosal angle (CA) is a useful biomarker in the diagnosis and management of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). Used incorrectly, CA measurements are variable, affecting its reliability as a clinical tool. Our objectives are to evaluate (i) reproducibility of established CA measurements between trained raters and (ii) impact of minor angular mal-rotations of the true coronal plane on CA measurements. CAs were measured by two independent raters on three-dimensional isovolumetric T1-weighted brain MRI of NPH patients and healthy controls using the established true coronal plane reformatted orthogonal to the plane containing the anterior-posterior commissural (AC-PC) line at the level of the posterior commissure. CA changes were subsequently evaluated when the coronal plane was mal-rotated by ± 5° and ± 10° in anterior-posterior and clockwise-anticlockwise directions. Inter-rater reliability of CA measurements was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). On the true coronal plane, inter-rater ICC was excellent (0.973) for NPH patients and good (0.875) for controls. On mal-rotated coronal plane setups, ICC for CA was worse in controls (0.484–0.886) than NPH (0.879–0.981) groups and in clockwise-anticlockwise (0.484–0.956) than anterior-posterior (0.503–0.981) mal-rotations. CA changes secondary to mal-rotations from the true coronal plane were significant in NPH patients (P 0.1). This is the first demonstration of how small angular mal-rotations of the coronal plane used for CA measurement affect its value and inter-rater reliability, highlighting the importance of a standardized protocol when measuring the CA in NPH workup.

A decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease even after adjustment for conventional risk factors. The myocardial performance index (MPI) is defined as (isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) + isovolumetric contraction time (IVCT))/ejection time (ET). It has been shown to be an independent predictor of cardiovascular events. We hypothesized the MPI could prove valuable for assessing cardiac risk in subjects of the general population with decreased estimated GFR (eGFR). MPI was measured in 1915 subjects from a large general population prospective cohort study using color tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) M-mode through the mitral valve. We compared the prognostic capabilities of the MPI between subjects with eGFR ≥ 75 mL/min/1.73 m2 and subjects with eGFR < 75 mL/min/1.73 m2 using multivariable adjusted Cox regression models. The composite endpoint was heart failure, myocardial infarction or cardiovascular death. Mean age was 58 years (SD 16.2), 58% were women, 42% had hypertension and 8.3% diabetes. During a median follow-up time of 12.4 years [IQR 10.6–12.7 years] 269 participants reached the combined endpoint. eGFR modified the prognostic capability of MPI (p-value for interaction < 0.001): After multivariable adjustment, MPI remained an independent predictor of the composite endpoint only in participants with eGFR < 75 mL/min/1.73 m2: HR 1.18 (95% CI 1.02–1.38), p = 0.03, vs. in subjects with eGFR ≥ 75 mL/min/1.73 m2: HR 1.14 (95% CI 0.94–1.39), p = 0.17. These results suggest the MPI could be particularly valuable for identifying elevated cardiac risk in individuals from the general population with decreased eGFR.

BACKGROUND In 2016, the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) released guidelines for identifying left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (DD), but its ability to detect early hemodynamic abnormalities is not well established, especially in the setting of subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD). We hypothesize that the accuracy of ASE categorization of early LVDD is affected by knowledge of whether CAD history is present. METHODS We studied 34 patients (age 62 ± 7 years) with NYHA class I to II symptoms and with transthoracic echocardiography without findings suggesting myocardial disease (all with preserved LV ejection fraction), who underwent cardiac catheterization with high-fidelity LV pressure measurement. Echocardiographic images were evaluated for LVDD using ASE algorithm without and with knowledge of CAD history and angiography findings. CAD was considered as having DD for the algorithm. RESULTS CAD was identified in 22 patients at catheterization (65%). Using ASE guidelines without including history of CAD or angiographic results, 29 patients were DD-, 3 were DD+ (all grade II), and 2 were indeterminate. Inclusion of CAD history recategorized 59% (n = 20) patients to DD+ (all grade I) from DD- (P

Background Patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) are subjected to many cardiac changes. However, these changes are of gradual onset and cannot be usually detected using conventional diagnostic methods. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is capable to detect cardiac function alterations usually unidentified by conventional echocardiography. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of STE in the detection of early cardiac changes in female patients with SCH. Methods The study included 33 female patients with SCH and 30 matched healthy volunteer women with normal thyroid functions who served as controls. Upon recruitment, all participants were subjected to careful history taking, thorough clinical examination and routine laboratory investigations, including thyroid-stimulating hormone and Free T4. The echocardiographic examination included conventional, color Doppler and two-dimensional STE. Results Analysis of conventional echocardiographic data revealed that patients had significantly higher end-systolic volume when compared with controls. In addition, it was noted that SCH patients had significantly lower mitral E/A ratio, isovolumetric relaxation time and significantly higher left atrium volume index in comparison to controls. In respect to STE data, we noted that patients had significantly lower values of mid-anteroseptal, apical lateral, apical septal, apical apex, AP4L strain and global strain % when compared with controls. Conclusions Patients with SCH have deteriorated global strain in comparison to healthy controls.

Objective. The modified myocardial performance index (mod-MPI) is a non-invasive Doppler index for evaluation of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function. The MPI index is considered to be a reliable early marker of fetal cardiac dysfunction and may indicate the initial stages of adaptation of the heart to various perinatal complications. In order to use the myocardial performance index to assess fetal cardiac function, it’s necessary to determine normal values of MPI in the Russian population and compare the values depending on the period of pregnancy. Materials and methods . A Doppler study was conducted on two hundred fetuses with normal heart anatomy. Determing Mod-MPI values were based on techniques described by Hernandez et al. The measured time intervals: isovolumetric contruction time (ICT), ejection time (ET), isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT). Three consecutive measurements of all parameters were determined and the MPI index was calculated from the average value of each interval according to the formula: PI=(ICT+IRT)/ET. Results . The average value of ICT was 31±3 mc in the 2 nd trimester of pregnancy and 30±3 in the third. The average value of ET was 169±9 mc in the 2 nd trimester of pregnancy and 170±10 in the third. The average value of IRT was 38±4 mc in the 2 nd trimester of pregnancy and 37±4 in the third. The average value of mod-MPI was 0,39±0,03. There were no association between the mod-MPI values and gestational age. Conclusions. The mod-MPI is a marker of fetal myocardial disfunction. The use of myocardial performance index is currently limited due to the lack of normative reference ranges and standardized techniques for measuring the estimated time periods. The modified technique was designed to help measure time intervals for calculation of the MPI.

Ventricular septal defects (VSDs) have recently demonstrated poorer functional outcome with disrupted ventricular contractility during exercise in young patients. It is not known whether this will change with age. Therefore, echocardiography was performed in older patients with congenital VSDs, either surgically closed or unrepaired and all without Eisenmenger physiology, to compare functional outcomes with healthy peers. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed at rest and during supine bicycle exercise, with tissue velocity Doppler for assessment of primary end points: isovolumetric acceleration and systolic velocities. In total, 30 surgically closed VSDs (51 ± 8 years) with 30 healthy controls (52 ± 9 years) and 30 unrepaired VSDs (55 ± 12 years) with 30 matched controls (55 ± 10 years) were included. Surgical patients displayed lower right ventricular (RV) systolic and early diastolic-filling velocities compared with controls, p

Purpose of the state-of-the-art review: Left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) is recently recognized as a more sensitive measure of LV myocardial systolic function compared with LV ejection fraction (LVEF). In addition, left ventricular GLS , myocardial performance index (MPI) and maximum rate of LV pressure rise during isovolumetric contraction (LV dP/dtmax) are more reproducible than traditional assessment of LV systolic function by two dimensional echocardiography (2DE) LVEF. These underutilized techniques can detect preclinical myocardial dysfunction in patients who are at risk of LV failure in valvular-induced heart disease . Current guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of valvular heart disease (VHD) include LVEF as one of the parameters to take into consideration in the clinical decision-making. However, a large body of evidence has shown that left ventricular GLS, MPI and LV dP/dtmax have been classically considered as a sensitive marker of LV contractility and inotropic state. In turn GLS and myocardial performance may be a better prognosticator than LVEF in aortic and mitral valve heart diseases. This timely state-of-the-art review, appraised the evidence and role of GLS, MPI and dP/dT as clinical tools in patients with aortic and mitral valve disease. Recent findings: Left ventricular GLS has been shown to be prognostic in low-flow, low-gradient severe aortic stenosis with preserved LVEF. The role of left ventricular GLS, Tei index (MPI) and maximum rate of LV pressure rise (LV dP/dtmax) in patients with aortic regurgitation and mitral valve diseases (regurgitation and stenosis) is less well established. Summary: Echocardiography is considered the primary non-invasive imaging tool for valvular heart disease assessment and the cornerstone method in diagnosing and evaluating the morphology and severity of aortic and mitral valve diseases. Currently, diagnostic-cardiac catheterization is no more recommended except in very rare cases when echocardiographic image quality is suboptimal, non-diagnostic and when the results of 2DE are discrepant with clinical data. Once clinical decision-making is based on the 2DE and three dimensional echocardiographic in assessment of the severity of mitral and aortic valve diseases, it is crucial that standards should be adopted to maintain accuracy and consistency across echocardiographic laboratories. This illustrative review article assesses left ventricular systolic function (LVEF) employing two and/or three dimensional echocardiography in comparison to GLS, MPI and LV dP/dtmax, especially applied for aortic valve (AV) and mitral valve (MV) diseases. It is noteworthy that this document only provides echocardiographic standards rather than making recommendations for clinical management. Conclusion: It is concluded that GLS, MPI and maximum rate of LV pressure rise during isovolumetric contraction (LV dP/dtmax) are recommended and more so, they should be increasingly used to identify subclinical LV myocardial dysfunction in patients with mitral and aortic valve heart diseases, to identify optimal timing for surgery and prognosticate outcomes after surgery

BACKGROUND Right ventricular (RV) function is a powerful independent predictor of adverse heart failure outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare the predictive value of main RV systolic imaging parameters for outcome. METHODS Seventy-nine patients underwent comprehensive cardiovascular imaging modalities including transthoracic echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, and tomographic equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography (ERV) for the assessment of RV function. The composite primary endpoint (CPE) was defined by the occurrence of death, heart transplantation, implantation of a left ventricular assist device, or new-onset acute heart failure. RESULTS During a mean follow-up of 13 ± 9 months, 15 (19%) patients reached the CPE. The areas under the receiver operator characteristic curves for the prediction of the CPE were 0.922 (P

Exclusion of cardiac abnormalities should be performed at the beginning of the athlete’s career. Myocarditis, right ventricular remodeling and coronary anomalies are well-known causes of life-threatening events of athletes, major cardiovascular events and sudden cardiac death. The feasibility of an extended comprehensive echocardiographic protocol for the detection of structural cardiac abnormalities in athletes should be tested. This standardized protocol of transthoracic echocardiography includes two- and three-dimensional imaging, tissue Doppler imaging, and coronary artery scanning. Post processing was performed for deformation analysis of all compounds including layer strain. During 2017 and 2018, the feasibility of successful image acquisition and post processing analysis was retrospectively analyzed in 54 male elite athletes. In addition, noticeable findings inside the analyzed cohort are described. The extended image acquisition and data analyzing was feasible from 74 to 100%, depending on the used modalities. One case of myocarditis was detected in the present cohort. Coronary anomalies were not found. Right ventricular size and function were within normal ranges. Isovolumetric right ventricular relaxation time showed significant regional differences. One case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and two subjects with bicuspid aortic valves were found. Due to the excessive cardiac stress in highly competitive sports, high-quality and precise screening modalities are necessary, especially with respect to acquired cardiac diseases like acute myocarditis and pathological changes of left ventricular and RV geometry. The documented feasibility of the proposed extended protocol underlines the suitability to detect distinct morphological and functional cardiac alterations and documents the potential added value of a comprehensive echocardiography.

BACKGROUND Arterial hypertension is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It was previously shown that left atrium volume increase associated with mortality and atherosclerotic heart disease. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the value of endothelial dysfunction in predicting left atrium volume increase in newly diagnosed hypertension patients. METHODS This study included 96 consecutive newly diagnosed hypertensive patients. Left atrium volume and left ventricular ejection fraction were calculated. Pulse wave velocity and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation measurements were obtained from each patient. RESULTS Left Ventricle Mass Index (114 ± 29 g/m, 91 ± 17 g/m, P < 001), left ventricular septum (P < 0.001) and posterior wall thickness (P = 0.001), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (P = 0.016) were significantly higher in patients with higher left atrial volume index. FMD% was lower in patients with higher left atrial volume index those without (9.7 ± 3.5 vs. 13.31 ± 6.01, P = 0.004). Lateral wall E wave velocity was significantly lower (8.68 ± 2.8, 10.2 ± 2.8; P = 0.009), while isovolumetric relaxation time (101.9 ± 19.9 ms, 85.7 ± 15.2 ms; P < 0.001), and ejection time was longer (101.9 ± 19.9 ms, 85.7 ± 15.2 ms; P = 0.077) and Mitral E/ lateral wall E ratio (E/E relation) was significantly higher (P = 0.031) in patients with higher left atrial volume index. CONCLUSION The rate of isovolumetric relaxation time, FMD% and E/E' ratio independently predicted left atrial volume index increase in newly diagnosed hypertension patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of pregestational diabetes mellitus (DM) on fetal cardiac function two-dimensional parameters using spectral and tissue Doppler. Pregnant women between 20 and 36 + 6 weeks gestation were divided into three groups: controls, type I DM, and type II DM. The right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle (LV) annular velocity peaks were measured using spectral (E, A) and tissue (E′, A′, S′) Doppler. The myocardial performance index was calculated as (isovolumetric contraction time [ICT] + isovolumetric relaxation time [IRT])/ejection time using tissue (MPI′) and the spectral Doppler (MPI). A general linear model, with fetal heart rate as a covariant, was used to evaluate the effect of DM on the fetal heart function assessment parameters. To assess the association of type I and II DM with adverse perinatal outcomes, Fisher’s exact test was used. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the best cutoff for fetal cardiac function assessment parameters to identify the neonatal composite outcomes. The sample comprised 179 pregnant women. DM had significant effect on RV and LV A peak velocities (p = 0.026 and p = 0.011, respectively). LV ICT (p

This research aims to propose a standalone systolic profile (SP) detection method that could locate systolic profiles without referring to concurrent R-peaks of electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. This technique is specifically used to facilitate the study of seismocardiogram (SCG) obtained by noncontact sensing methods, such as radar acceleration waveform (RAW). In our research, a single-layer bi-directional long short-term memory (LSTM) network with 300 hidden units is used to distinguish SP, which is the part of SCG that depicts the phase of systole, including fiducial points such as isovolumic contraction (IM) and aortic valve opening (AO) points. The network is trained on a semi-automatically constructed dataset that consists of 2115 positive segments (PSs) and 2115 negative segments (NSs) with the length of 256 milliseconds. The trained network is applied to RAW signal in the form of a sliding window, judging whether each segment is SP. The performance of the proposed approach is evaluated using the prediction accuracy of SP and average inter-beat intervals (IBIs) on 6 subjects. The results show that this approach is promising in replacing the ECG R-peaks as the reference signal for clean or partially noisy RAWs. In addition, the proposed approach demonstrates better performance than the existing heart rate envelope-based methods.

Aims The urethral dysfunction produced by a rat model of peripheral neurogenic detrusor underactivity (DU) using pelvic nerve crush (PNC) injury was characterized and then tested with the administration of tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE 5) inhibitor. Methods Ten days after producing PNC rats, awake cystometrograms (CMGs) and isovolumetric cystometrograms with urethral perfusion pressure (IC-UPP) measurements were performed. Also, in control rats, IC-UPP was recorded before and after intravenous atropine administration to determine if the reduction of bladder contraction pressure affects urethral relaxation during voiding. Then, CMG and IC-UPP measurements in PNC rats were recorded after intravenous administration of tadalafil. Lastly, real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to measure transcript levels of neuronal nitric oxide synthases (nNOS), endothelial nitric oxide synthases, and PDE 5 in urethral specimens from PNC and control rats. Results PNC rats demonstrated the characteristics of DU in CMG. Also, PNC rats exhibited significant decreases in isovolumetric bladder contraction amplitudes and urethral relaxation. Atropine attenuated the amplitude of isovolumetric bladder contractions; however, atropine did not affect urethral relaxation in control rats. Tadalafil decreased postvoid residual and increased voiding efficiency without changing bladder contraction amplitude in PNC rats. Also, tadalafil improved the amplitude of urethral relaxation during bladder contraction in PNC rats. Urethral nNOS transcript levels were upregulated in PNC rats compared to control rats. Conclusions PNC rats revealed both DU and impaired urethral relaxation. PDE 5 inhibition in PNC rats enhanced urethral relaxation during voiding, resulting in improved voiding efficiency. Thus, urethral dysfunction could be a potential target for the treatment of inefficient voiding associated with neurogenic DU.

The aim: To improve efficacy of the right ventricle functional condition evaluation in children with tetralogy of Fallot after surgical correction by estimation of instrumental markers of myocardial dysfunction. Materials and methods: We completely examined 35 children with tetralogy of Fallot after their surgical correction at the age of 3 – 17 years. For all the patients was presented tissue doppler. We evaluated peak myocardial velocities of right ventrical in different phases of the heart cycle (S, E`, A`), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), diastolic myocardial velocities ratio (E/E`), peak myocardial velocity during isovolumic contraction (IVV), isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT). Results: All children of the study group had pulmonary insufficiency of different severity with main predominance of mild pulmonary regurgitation (20 patients, 57,14±8,36 %). Children with tetralogy of Fallot after surgical correction were admitted with: decreased TAPSE up to 1,39±0,28 cm, decreased S` up to 8,00±1,90 cm/s, and decreased IVV up to 5,69±0,95 cm/s that is significantly lower results of the healthy children. Severe pulmonary regurgitation usually followed by high chances of the right ventricle systolic dysfunction, exactly with: decresed TAPSE 6,0 in 1,5 times (95% CI 1,072 – 1,903) and decreased E`

This article presents a primed left ventricle heart perfusion method to generate physiologic aortic pressure (AoP) and perform functional assessment. Isolated hearts of male Yorkshire pigs were used to study the hemodynamic behaviors of AoPs generated in the primed left ventricle heart perfusion (n = 6) and conventional (zero-loaded left ventricle) Langendorff perfusion (n = 6). The measurement results show that left ventricular pressure generated in the primed left ventricle heart perfusion is a determinant of physiologic AoP (i.e. systolic and diastolic pressures within physiologic range). The aortic pulse pressure (systolic pressure = 124.5 ± 1.7 mm Hg, diastolic pressure = 87.8 ± 0.9 mm Hg, aortic pulse pressure = 36.7 ± 2.6 mm Hg) from the primed left ventricle heart perfusion represents close match with the in vivo physiologic data. The volume in the left ventricle remains constant throughout the primed left ventricle heart perfusion, which allows us to perform isovolumetric left ventricular pressure measurement in ex vivo heart perfusion (EVHP). Left ventricular contractility measurements (maximum and minimum rates of left ventricular pressure change) were derived for cardiac assessment. In summary, the proposed primed left ventricle heart perfusion method is able to create physiologic AoP and enables left ventricular functional assessment in EVHP in porcine hearts.

Background and method This study evaluated the effects of a linear block strength training programme on the parameters of cardiac remodelling in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Thirty-nine rats were equally distributed in four groups: normotensive sedentary, normotensive trained, hypertensive sedentary and hypertensive trained. The strength training protocol was organized in three mesocycles of 4 weeks, with an increase in the training load organized in a linear fashion for each block, considering the weight established in the maximum loaded load test. The following parameters were evaluated: ventricular function assessed by echocardiogram, caudal blood pressure, ventricular haemodynamics and cardiac masses. Two-way analysis of variance was used to determine the differences between the group and time. Results After 12 weeks of training, the hypertensive trained group presented the following results: increased muscle strength, reduced blood pressure, reduced heart rate, isovolumetric relaxation time and total collagen content, with increased cardiac function, without promoting changes in the mass and nuclear volume of cardiomyocytes. Also, blood pressure reduction seems to be associated with both muscle strength adjustments and total load progress. Conclusion The findings of this study showed that the training programme carried out attenuated systemic arterial pressure and preserved the ventricular function of spontaneously hypertensive rats without cardiac mass change.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an effective treatment for a subgroup of heart failure (HF) patients, but more than 30% of those selected do not improve after CRT implantation. Imperfect pre-procedural criteria for patient selection and optimization are the main causes of the high non-response rate. In this study, we evaluated a novel measure for assessing CRT response. We used a computational modeling framework to calculate the regional stress of the left ventricular wall of seven CRT patients and seven healthy controls. The standard deviation of regional wall stress at the time of mitral valve closure (SD_MVC) was used to quantify dyssynchrony and compared between patients and controls and among the patients. The results show that SD_MVC is significantly lower in controls than patients and correlates with long-term response in patients, based on end-diastolic volume reduction. In contrast to our initial hypothesis, patients with lower SD_MVC respond better to therapy. The patient with the highest SD_MVC was the only non-responder in the patient cohort. The distribution of fiber stress at the beginning of the isovolumetric phase seems to correlate with the degree of response and the use of this measurement could potentially improve selection criteria for CRT implantation. Further studies with a larger cohort of patients are needed to validate these results.

AIMS Intradetrusor injection of Onabotulinum Toxin A (BTX-A) is a third-line treatment for overactive bladder (OAB). Voiding dysfunction and the need for intermittent catheterization are potential complications, consequent to bladder contractility (BC) decrement. Primary aim: to evaluate BC variation after BTX-A detrusor injection in women with idiopathic OAB. METHODS A prospective multi-institutional observational study was conducted. Medical history, bladder diary, 24-h pad test, and invasive urodynamic parameters were recorded before and 4-6 weeks after BTX-A 100U administration. BC was measured as Modified Projected Isovolumetric Pressure (PIP1), that is, maximum flow rate (Qmax) + detrusor pressure at Qmax (PdetQmax). Continuous variables were expressed as median and interquartile range. We compared continuous variables using Wilcoxon test and proportions between two times with Fisher exact test. RESULTS No changes in PIP1 were observed (p > 0.05) in 45 women enrolled between January 2018 and September 2019. Median age was 54.6 years. At baseline, 91.1% had urge urinary incontinence, with 4.9 ± 2.6 daily pads used and a 24-h pad test of 205.4 ± 70.8 g. Baseline detrusor contractility was normal in all the patients. Postoperatively, an improvement in the 24-h pad test (p 0.05), PdetQmax (p > 0.05), and PVR (p > 0.05). No patient needed postoperative catheterization. CONCLUSIONS The current series provides evidence that detrusor injection of botulinum toxin is an effective option for treating OAB, without causing voiding dysfunction and BC impairment.

PURPOSE We set out to undertake a preliminary assessment of the left ventricular hemodynamic status with right ventricular double-chamber pacing by energy loss (EL), wall shear stress (WSS), and circulation intensity (CIR) of vector flow mapping (VFM). We also planned to evaluate the value of VFM technology by measuring cardiac function after pacemaker implantation. METHOD Data from 58 patients living with right ventricular double-chamber (right ventricular septal) pacemakers as well as 58 healthy volunteers matched in age and gender were collected. The EL, numbers of vortex cycles (n), area (A), CIR, and WSS of the left ventricle with different phases of the same cardiac cycle were obtained. RESULTS The EL of the left ventricle was significantly higher in the pacemaker group than the control group at partial section of atrial contraction (AC), isovolumetric contraction (IVC), and rapid ejection (RE) (P

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the feasibility of assessing the fetal right Myocardial Performance Index (RMPI) using single waveform and to compare absolute values with dual technique. METHODS: We studied 145 morphologically normal appropriately grown fetuses at 16–28 weeks’ gestation with local Ethics Committee approval using fixed machine settings: Doppler sweep velocity at 15 cm/s; angle of insonation

After considering some fundamental aspects of isovolumetric contractility measurements it has been made clear why the first method of contractility measurement and the recent revival of this method fail. However, on the base of these fundamental aspects an alternative method is suggested which is related to a recently evaluated biomechanical model of the urinary bladder.

OBJECTIVE We aimed to evaluate the fetal cardiac functions with myocardial performance index( MPI) in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, 35 patients who were diagnosed with GDM and 35 pregnant without glucose intolerance and their babies were evaluated. Fetal echocardiographic, biometric measurements, umbilical artery pulsatility indices (UAPI) and ductus venosus pulsatility indices (DVPI) measurements were performed to evaluate fetal well-being between the groups. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of UAPI, DVPI, systolic functions, the mode of delivery and 5-minute APGAR scores (p = 0.849, p = 0.485, p = 0.770, p=0.060, p=0.587). There was statistically significant difference between the isovolumetric relaxation time and isovolumetric contraction time of groups (p=0.006, p = 0.03). The MPI results were statistically different between the groups (p = 0.000). Postpartum need for hospitalization was more frequently observed in GDM than the control group (p = 0.014). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS MPI, which is independent of the ventricular anatomy and fetal heart rate, showing both diastolic and systolic functions, was found significantly higher in GDM. We recommend perform MPI measurement routinely to fetal cardiac functions in GDM.

Objective: This study demonstrates a novel method for pulse arrival time (PAT) segmentation into cardiac isovolumic contraction (IVC) and vascular pulse transit time to approximate central pulse wave velocity (PWV). Methods: 10 subjects (38 +/- 10 years, 121 +/- 12 mmHg SBP) ranging from normotension to hypertension were repeatedly measured at rest and with induced changes in blood pressure (BP), and thus PWV. ECG was recorded simultaneously with ultrasound-based carotid distension waveforms, a photoplethysmography-based peripheral waveform, noninvasive continuous and intermittent cuff BP. Central PAT was segmented into cardiac and vascular time intervals using a fiducial point in the carotid distension waveform that reflects the IVC onset. Central and peripheral PWVs were computed from (segmented) intervals and estimated arterial path lengths. Correlations with Bramwell-Hill PWV, systolic and diastolic BP (SBP/DBP) were analyzed by linear regression. Results: Central PWV explained more than twice the variability (R-2) in Bramwell-Hill PWV compared to peripheral PWV (0.56 vs. 0.27). SBP estimated from central PWV undercuts the IEEE mean absolute deviation threshold of 5 mmHg, significantly lower than peripheral PWV or PAT (4.2 vs. 7.1 vs. 10.1 mmHg). Conclusion: Cardiac IVC onset signaled in carotid distension waveforms enables PAT segmentation to obtain unbiased vascular pulse transit time. Corresponding PWV estimates provide the basis for single-site assessment of central arterial stiffness, confirmed by significant correlations with Bramwell-Hill PWV and SBP. Significance: In a small-scale cohort, we present proof-of-concept for a novel method to estimate central PWV and BP, bearing potential to improve the practicality of cardiovascular risk assessment in clinical routines.

ObjectivesThe primary aim of this study was to establish the normal reference ranges of the fetal left ventricular (LV) Modified Myocardial Performance Index (Mod-MPI). A secondary aim was to evaluate the agreement between manual and automatic measurements for fetal Mod-MPI.DesignA prospective, multicentre, cross-sectional study.ParticipantsNormal singleton pregnancies.MethodsThe LV functions of normal singleton pregnancies were assessed in nine centres covering eight provinces in China using unified ultrasound protocols and settings and standardised measurements by pulsed Doppler at 20–24, 28–32 and 34–38 weeks of gestation. The isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT), isovolumetric contraction time, ejection time (ET) and Mod-MPI were measured both automatically and manually.ResultsThis cross-sectional study included 2081 fetuses, and there was a linear correlation between gestational age (GA) and Mod-MPI (0.416+0.001×GA (weeks), p2=0.013), IRT (36.201+0.162× GA (weeks), p2=0.021) and ET (171.418–0.078*GA (weeks), p2=0.002). This finding was verified using longitudinal data in a subgroup of 610 women. The agreement between the manual and automated measurements for Mod-MPI was good.ConclusionsWe constructed normal reference values of fetal LV Mod-MPI. Automatic measurement can be considered for ease of measurement in view of the good agreement between the automatic and manual values.

Background: Tissue Doppler shows short duration velocity spikes during pre- and post-ejection (protodiastole). They have been assumed to be isovolumic contraction and relaxation movements, but this is not in accordance with newer studies. Methods: We examined 22 healthy volunteers. Valve closures and openings were determined from spectral Doppler from LVOT and mitral inflow and transferred to colour tissue Doppler recordings for comparison with tissue velocities, colour M-mode and strain rate (SR). Results: Pre-ejection positive velocity spikes were simultaneous in both walls, starting ca. 24.8 ± 10.1 ms after start QRS, duration 51.5 ± 10.8 ms, ending 10.2 ± 11.5 ms after mitral valve closure (MVC) (p < 0.001). There were corresponding colour tracings and negative strain rate. Protodiastolic lengthening was predominant in the septum. Negative velocity spikes had a duration of 35.5 ± 10.7 ms, ending 9.5 ± 14.7 ms after aortic valve closure (AVC, p < 0.001) in septum. During isovolumic relaxation, strain rate showed apical lengthening (Peak SR-0.72 ± 0.50 s-1 ) and basal shortening (Peak SR 0.44 ± 0.63 s-1 ). Conclusion: Electromechanical activation of the LV is simultaneous in septum and lateral wall, occurs before MVC, is terminated by MVC itself and is thus not isovolumic. Protodiastole is a short event of lengthening, predominantly in the septum. It may be the mechanism for valve closure and ends by AVC itself. Isovolumic relaxation occurs after this velocity spike, and is characterized by elongation of the apex, shortening of the base, thus showing a volume shift from base towards apex.

Background The left atrium reservoir function has an important role in the global cardiac performance and is determined by multiple cardiac and extra-cardiac factors. A new parameter is introduced, the independent strain, which quantifies left atrium reservoir phase deformation during isovolumetric relaxation. Aims Is evaluated whether independent strain can identify intrinsic atrial myocardial damage in hypertension. Material and methods Prospective observational study in which echocardiography was done to 50 hypertensive patients and 80 healthy volunteers. Myocardial deformation was evaluated with two-dimensional speckle tracking and left atrium volumes were calculated whit 3D-echocardiography. Results In hypertensive patients, the indexed left atrium volume was greater than in the control group (34 ± 7.8 vs 24 ± 4.9 mL/m2 ); strain of pump (-5.7 ± 2.4% vs -17±3.5%) and reservoir phases (34 ± 9% vs 48 ± 10%) were worst. The minimum left atrium volume was higher (26 ± 10 vs 15 ± 8 mL) and left atrium independent strain was lower in hypertensive patients (4.0% vs 6.5%, P = .001). Left atrium independent strain only correlated with minimum left atrium volume (r = -.31, P = .048). Discussion The left ventricle longitudinal performance has an important contributing role in the left atrium reservoir function; despite this finding, the independent strain was unrelated to left ventricle longitudinal function. Conclusion Independent strain can identify atrial myocyte contractile dysfunction in hypertension given the relative absence of hemodynamic loads during this period. Additionally, quantification of left atrium minimum volume suggests indirectly the presence of atrial myocyte contractile dysfunction.

Objective: Thyroid hormones have an important role in the regulation of the cardiovascular system. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of subclinical myocardial dysfunction in children with euthyroid Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (eHT) without evident heart disease using tissue doppler imaging (TDI) and speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) methods. Methods: TDI and STE were peformed in 50 children with eHT and in 35 healthy children. To assess myocardial velocities and time intervals, including peak systolic velocity (Sm), peak early diastolic velocity (Em), peak late diastolic velocity (Am), isovolumetric contraction time (IVCT), isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) and ejection time (ET), TDI was performed at the base of the interventricular septum (IVS) and in the left and right ventricles (LV and RV, respectively). Analysis of myocardial deformation by STE including strain (S) and strain rate (SR) was performed globally in two planes, longitudinal (L) and mid-circumferential (C) in LV [LV global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), LV global longitudinal strain rate (LVGLSR), LV global circumferential strain (LVGCS), LV global circumferential strain rate (LVGCSR)] and RV [(RV global longitudinal strain (RVGLS), RV global longitudinal strain rate (RVGLSR)]. Results: Among TDI parameters, ET at LV and IVS were significantly lower, IVRT and myocardial performance index at LV and IVS were significantly higher in the eHT group compared to controls (p=0.001). There were no significant differences in Sm, Em, Am and IVCT values between patients and controls. LVGLS, LVGLSR, LVGCS and LVGCSR values were significantly lower in patients than controls (p=0.01). There was a negative correlation between thyroid antibody levels and LV global longitudinal and circumferential strain and strain rate values (TPO-Ab and Tg-Ab between LVGLS, LVGLSR, LVGCS and LVGCSR; r=-411, p