Elaborate evaluation of serial changes in electrocardiograms of atrial septal defects after transcatheter closure for a better understanding of the recovery process.

Serial changes of electrocardiograms (ECG) could be used to assess their clinical features in atrial septal defects (ASD) after transcatheter closure together with other clinical parameters. We retrospectively studied 100 ASD patients who underwent transcatheter closure. Complications of persistent atrial fibrillation occurred in five ASD patients, and they were excluded. We divided the other 95 patients according to PQ intervals before closure (normal: < 200 ms, n = 51; prolonged: ≥ 200 ms, n = 44) to evaluate their clinical characteristics and parameters such as echocardiography, chest X-rays, and brain natriuretic protein (BNP) levels. Individuals in the prolonged PQ group were significantly older, had higher incidences of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) and heart failure (HF) treated with more ß-blockers and diuretics, and with a higher tendency of NYHA functional classification and BNP levels than the normal PQ group. The prolonged PQ group also had a significantly higher incidence of complete right bundle branch block, wider QRS intervals, and larger cardiothoracic ratios in chest X-rays accompanied by larger right atrial-areas and larger left atrial dimensions in echocardiograms. Furthermore, the prolonged PQ intervals with less PQ interval shortening after transcatheter closure revealed that the patients were the oldest at the time of closures and showed less structural normalization of the right heart and left atrium after ASD closure. PAF and HF also occurred more frequently in this subgroup. These results suggested that the ASD patients with prolonged PQ intervals with less PQ shortening were accompanied by more advanced clinical conditions. Together with other clinical parameters, detailed analyses of ECG and their changes after closure could elucidate the clinical characteristics and status of ASD patients with transcatheter closure and were useful for predicting structural normalization after transcatheter closure.

Cardiac and respiratory effects of deep regional hyperthermia using an 8 MHz radiofrequency-capacitive device on patients with cancer.

PURPOSE: Hyperthermia (HT), an adjuvant therapy for variable cancers, may cause physiological changes in the patients, which may lead to cardiovascular problems. Among various HT treatments, the physiological effects of deep regional HT are still unclear. We examined the physiological alterations throughout deep regional HT to improve the HT safety. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients (age: 61 ± 12 years) with cancer received HT in the thoracic or upper abdominal regions using an 8-MHz radiofrequency-capacitive-device for 50 min. Rectal temperature (Trec), systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP), pulse rate (PR), respiratory rate (RR), percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2) and sweating volume were evaluated throughout HT. RESULTS: At 50 min after starting HT, Trec, PR and RR were significantly increased compared with the baseline values (Trec: 38.2 ± 1.4 vs. 36.3 ± 0.8 °C, p < 0.001, PR: 104 ± 15 vs. 85 ± 16 bpm, p < 0.05, RR: 23 ± 3 vs. 21 ± 3/min, p < 0.05). Although the average SBP and DBP were both stable during HT in a recumbent position, these values dropped significantly in a standing position (SBP: 113 ± 16 vs. 127 ± 18 mmHg, p < 0.001, DBP: 70 ± 12 vs. 75 ± 13 mmHg, p < 0.01). The total amount of sweating was 356 ± 173 g/m2 on average. CONCLUSIONS: Deep regional HT increased the deep body temperature and resulted in an increase of sweating with peripheral vasodilatation. Consequently, a significant reduction in BP would be induced on standing after HT. Careful attention is needed for patients receiving HT, especially when standing after HT.

Sex differences in the effectiveness and affecting factors to adherence of continuous positive airway pressure therapy.

Although sex differences in clinical backgrounds of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are well known, studies of sex differences about the influencing factors on adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) are very sparse. Our aim was to investigate the effects of CPAP use affecting therapeutic adherence in sex differences. We retrospectively assessed demographic data, clinical characteristics, OSA-related symptoms, and effects and adherence of CPAP use in 348 patients (264 males, median age 58 years) who continued CPAP for at least 1 year. Poor adherence was defined as CPAP dropout within 1 year after starting CPAP or the average cumulative CPAP use less than four hours/night. We also studied the predictors or influencing factors of CPAP adherence by multivariate logistic regression analyses. Age was higher and the severity of OSA was lower in female patients. Although the adherence level itself was not significantly different between both sexes, influencing factors were different. OSA severity, such as apnea-hypopnea index and sleepiness, and many effects from CPAP use (respiratory difficulty, difficult adaptation to CPAP use, improved awakening, reduced nocturia, and easy adaptation to CPAP) influenced adherence only in men. Common factors of poor adherence in both sexes were lower age, insomnia by CPAP use, and improved daytime sleepiness. No other specific factors predicted poor adherence in women. We found that there were sex differences in influencing factors on CPAP adherence not only in clinical characteristics of OSA, but also in effectiveness and side effects of CPAP use.

Characteristics of sleep-disordered breathing in children with down syndrome - A comparison with typically developing children.

Background: Compared with typically developing control children (CC), children with Down syndrome (DS) frequently exhibit sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and unusual sleep postures (USPs). No studies have directly compared SDB-related signs and symptoms, SDB-related parameters, and USPs between children with DS and CC. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalences of SDB and USPs in children with DS and CC. Methods: We analyzed SDB-related parameters measured via overnight pulse oximetry and questionnaires administered to parents on SDB-related signs and symptoms, including sleeping postures. Estimated SDB was defined as a 3% oxygen desaturation index (ODI) ≥5 dips/h. Results: Fifty-one children with DS (4-5 years: N = 12, 6-10 years: N = 23, 11-15 years: N = 16) and sixty-three CC (4-5 years: N = 18, 6-10 years: N = 27, 11-15 years: N = 18) were included. The prevalence of estimated SDB and observed USPs was higher in children with DS than in CC (p < 0.0001). Among children aged 11-15 years old, but not those aged 4-5 and 6-10 years old, frequency of arousal and apnea (p = 0.045 and p = 0.01, respectively) were higher in children with DS than in CC. Multivariate analyses showed that DS was associated with SDB-related signs and symptoms, estimated SDB, 3% ODI, average oxygen saturation (SpO2), and nadir SpO2, while USPs were associated only with higher values of SpO2 <90%. Conclusions: Estimated SDB tended to increase in children with DS but decreased in CC with growth. USPs were more frequent in children with DS than in CC, especially in older children. USPs might indicate severe hypoxemia due to SDB in DS.