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We present an all-optical method to measure and compensate for residual magnetic fields present in a cloud of ultracold atoms trapped in an optical dipole trap. Our approach leverages the increased loss from the trapped atomic sample through electromagnetically induced absorption. Modulating the excitation laser provides coherent sidebands, resulting in a Λ-type pump-probe scheme. Scanning an additional magnetic offset field leads to pairs of sub-natural linewidth resonances, whose positions encode the magnetic field in all three spatial directions. Our measurement scheme is readily implemented in typical quantum gas experiments and has no particular hardware requirements.
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AIMS: Right atrial (RA) dilation and stretch provide prognostic information in patients with cardiovascular diseases. We investigated the prevalence, confounding factors and prognostic relevance of RA dilation in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS: Overall, 609 PE patients were consecutively included in a prospective single-centre registry between September 2008 and August 2017. Volumetric measurements of heart chambers were performed on routine non-electrocardiographic-gated computed tomography and plasma concentrations of mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) measured on admission. An in-hospital adverse outcome was defined as PE-related death, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation or catecholamine administration. RESULTS: Patients with an adverse outcome (11.2%) had larger RA volumes (median 120 (interquartile range 84-152) versus 102 (78-134) mL; p=0.013), RA/left atrial (LA) volume ratios (1.7 (1.2-2.4) versus 1.3 (1.1-1.7); p<0.001) and MR-proANP levels (282 (157-481) versus 129 (64-238) pmol·L-1; p<0.001) compared to patients with a favourable outcome. Overall, 499 patients (81.9%) had a RA/LA volume ratio ≥1.0 and a calculated cut-off value of 1.8 (area under the curve 0.64, 95% CI 0.56-0.71) predicted an adverse outcome, both in unselected (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.9-5.2) and normotensive patients (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.3-5.6). MR-proANP ≥120â pmol·L-1 was identified as an independent predictor of an adverse outcome, both in unselected (OR 4.6, 95% CI 2.3-9.3) and normotensive patients (OR 5.1, 95% CI 1.5-17.6). CONCLUSIONS: RA dilation is a frequent finding in patients with PE. However, the prognostic performance of RA dilation appears inferior compared to established risk stratification markers. MR-proANP predicted an in-hospital adverse outcome, both in unselected and normotensive PE patients, integrating different prognostic relevant information from comorbidities.
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INTRODUCTION: Although the prognostic value of various echocardiographic parameters of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) was reported in normotensive patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE), there is no generally accepted definition of RVD. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to compare echocardiographic parameters for the prediction of an adverse 30day outcome and create an optimal definition of RVD. Patients and methods: Echocardiographic parameters including the right ventricular to left ventricular diameter ratio (RV to LV ratio) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) to predict PErelated mortality, hemodynamic collapse, or rescue thrombolysis within the first 30 days were directly compared in 490 normotensive patients with PE. RESULTS: An adverse outcome (AO) was present in 31 patients (6.3%); 8 of them (1.6%) died due to PE. Systolic blood pressure, RV to LV ratio, and TAPSE were independent predictors of AO. The receiver operator characteristic yielded an area under the curve of 0.737 (0.654-0.819; P <0.001) for the RV to LV ratio and 0.75 (0.672-0.828; P <0.001) for TAPSE with regard to an AO. The hazard ratio for AO was 2.5 for the RV to LV ratio of more than 1 (95% CI, 1.2-5.7; P <0.03) and 3.8 for TAPSE of less than 16 mm (95% CI, 1.74-8.11; P = 0.001). A combined RVD criterion (TAPSE <16 mm and RV to LV ratio >1) was present in 60 patients (12%), and showed a positive predictive value of 23.3% with a high negative predictive value of 95.6% regarding an AO (HR, 6.5; 95% CI, 3.2-13.3; P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Defining RVD on echocardiography by the RV to LV ratio of more than 1 combined with TAPSE of less than 16 mm identified patients with an increased risk of 30day PErelated mortality, hemodynamic collapse, or rescue thrombolysis, while patients without this sign had a very good 30day prognosis.
