Quantitative assessment of contractile reserve of systemic right ventricle in post-Senning children: Incorporating speckle-tracking strain and dobutamine stress echocardiography.

INTRODUCTION: The systemic load on the right ventricle (RV) after Senning atrial switch leads to ventricular dysfunction. Quantitative assessment of RV contractile reserve is mandatory to anticipate the need for anti-fibrotic treatment. We aimed to quantitatively assess RV contractile reserve in Senning children by estimating speckle-based global longitudinal strain (GLS) during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). METHODS: This prospective study compared thirty-one post-Senning children (group I) and thirty controls (group II). In post-Senning children, echocardiographic RV systolic function using one-plane ejection fraction (RVEF), RV fractional area change (RVFAC), tricuspid annulus plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), its Z-score, and RVGLS were recorded at rest and peak DSE. Contractile reserve was defined as improvement >5% in RVEF, >2% in GLS, and/or to near normal TAPSE. RESULTS: RVEF, RVFAC, TAPSE, and TAPSE Z-score were significantly lower in patients than controls [RVEF:40.13 ± 2.93% vs 53.17 ± 3.17% (P < .001*), RVFAC: 21.17 ± 2.37% vs 37.23 ± 2.13% (P < .001*), TAPSE:13.81 ± 1.26 vs 17.45 ± 2.93 mm (P < .001*), TAPSE Z-score: -3.47 ± 0.46 vs -2.09 ± 0.48 (P < .001*)]. Also, RVGLS was significantly impaired in Senning children than controls[ (-11.89 ± 2.31% vs -22.35 ± 6.73% (P < .001*)]. At peak DSE, contractile reserve was not evident as measured by RVEF which increased none significantly to 42.47 ± 2.80% (P = .063). However, RVGLS improved significantly to -15.78 ± 0.93% (P < .001*) and discovered the masked contractile reserve in Senning children. The 19(61.29%) children who showed masked contractile reserve (improvement in RVGLS > 2%) underwent continuation of anti-fibrotic medications. CONCLUSIONS: Despite systemic RV function in post-Senning children was impaired at rest and during DSE, RVGLS was useful in quantitative assessment of masked contractile thus promoted continuing anti-fibrotic treatment.

Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Is it Affected by Treatment Strategy?

BACKGROUND: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a frequent complication after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and severely affects morbidity and mortality, especially in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to determine the incidence, risk factors, and in-hospital outcome of CIN in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction managed by pharmacoinvasive strategy (PIS) versus those managed by primary PCI (PPCI). METHODS: The study was conducted on 670 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction divided into 2 groups: group I (PPCI group) and group II (PIS group), the 2 groups were compared with each other for the incidence of CIN, risk factors, and in-hospital major adverse cardiac events. RESULTS: The incidence of CIN in the PIS group (30 patients, 8.8%) was lower than PPCI group (36 patients, 10.9%); however, there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (p = 0.365). Multivariate regression analysis showed that advanced age >60 years (odds ratio [OR] = 4.453; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.489 to -7.967; p = 0.001), history of diabetes mellitus (OR = 2.366; 95% CI: 1.298 to -4.315; p = 0.005) and hypertension (OR = 1.930; 95% CI: 1.053 to -3.539; p = 0.034), volume of contrast agent >180 ml (OR = 2.276; 95% CI: 1.290 to -4.016; p = 0.005), and cardiogenic shock (OR = 4.098; 95% CI: 1.726 to -9.728; p = 0.001) were the independent predictors of CIN. Mortality and major adverse cardiac events were significantly higher in patients with CIN. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of CIN was slightly lower in PIS as compared to PPCI; however, this reduction was not statistically significant. The independent predictors of CIN were advanced age, history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, high dose of contrast agent, and cardiogenic shock.

Arterial stiffness in metabolic syndrome.

UNLABELLED: Arterial stiffness is increasingly recognized as an important determinant of cardiovascular risk and may be directly involved in the process of atherosclerosis. As atherosclerosis leads to increased arterial resistance and decrease the flow propagation speed within the arterial lumen, a similar decrease in aortic flow propagation with increased downstream resistance is detected, so aortic flow propagation velocity AVP was evaluated in many studies as a new parameter of aortic stiffness. AIM: To measure arterial stiffness using the new parameter AVP and compare it to flow mediated dilatation FMD as a parameter of endothelial dysfunction in patients with metabolic syndrome MS. METHODS: AVP (assessed by transthoracic echocardiography) and FMD (assessed by brachial artery reactivity test) were measured in 100 patients with MS (Group 1) and were compared to 14 normal subjects (Group 2). RESULTS: Patients with MS had significantly lower values of AVP as compared to the normal subjects; 36 ± 5 cm/s vs 57 ± 5, p < 0.05, and lower FMD; 6% ± 1 vs 17 ± 3 p < 0.05 as well, there was significant correlations between AVP and FMD (r = 0.89, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Transthoracic echocardiographic determination of AVP is a simple practical method and correlates well with FMD in patients with MS.

Testing communication models for relactation in an Egyptian setting.

BACKGROUND: Early discontinuation of breastfeeding exposes babies to severe and fatal illnesses. The aim of this study was to identify the barriers to relactation among Egyptian women who had stopped breastfeeding and to test different interventions to support the mothers to relactate. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective longitudinal cohort study of 200 mothers from Alexandria with babies less than 3 months of age who were not breastfeeding. They were exposed to three different types of educational models (problem solving, coaching, and cautioning) and followed up by phone calls over a period of 6 weeks. RESULTS: Compliance with the protocol for relactation varied according to the educational model used. Only 10% succeeded in relactating. The most effective educational strategy was the problem solving (45%) and the coaching (50%). The least effective was the cautioning approach (5%). Determinants of relactation included mother's education level (100%), cup feeding with no nipples or soothers (70%), and the husband's involvement (70%). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the choice of appropriate educational models is key to encouraging mothers to return to breastfeeding. This study strongly supports Step Ten of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative.