Carotid vascular strain predicts cardiovascular events in patients with hypertension.

BACKGROUND: We aim to investigate prognostic effects of carotid strain (CS) and strain rate (CSR) in hypertension. METHODS: We prospectively recruited 120 patients being treated for hypertension (65.8 ± 11.8 years, 58% male) in this observational study. Peak circumferential CS and peak CSR after ejection were identified using two-dimensional speckle tracking ultrasound. Major cardiovascular events were any admission for stroke, acute coronary syndrome, and heart failure. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up period of 63.6 ± 14.5 months, 14 (12%) patients had cardiovascular events. Age (75.3 ± 9.2 vs 64.6 ± 11.6 years; p = 0.001), systolic blood pressure (131.8 ± 15.5 vs 143.1 ± 16.6 mm Hg; p = 0.021), diastolic blood pressure (74.6 ±11.4 vs 82.1 ± 12.2 mm Hg; p = 0.039), use of diuretics (71 vs 92%; p = 0.014), carotid CS (2.17 ± 1.02 vs 3.28 ± 1.14 %; p = 0.001), and CSR (.28 ± .17 vs .51 ± .18 1/s; p < 0.001) were significantly different between the patients who did and did not reach the end-points. Multivariate Cox regression analysis controlling for age, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and use of diuretics showed that CS (HR .425, 95%CI .223-.811, p = 0.009) and CSR (HR .001, 95%CI .000-.072, p = 0.001) were independent predictors for cardiovascular events. CONCLUSION: In conclusions, decreased CS and CSR were associated with cardiovascular events in hypertension.

Effects of postsystolic shortening and diastolic dyssynchrony on myocardial work in untreated early hypertension patients.

OBJECTIVES: Myocardial work is estimated from noninvasive pressure-strain loop for advanced assessment of left ventricular function. Postsystolic shortening and diastolic dyssynchrony of left ventricle were noted early in hypertension. Their novel effects on myocardial work will be illustrated in this study. METHODS: We recruited 43 newly diagnosed hypertensive patients (mean age 51.3 ±â€Š12.5 years, 55.8% men) and 32 age-matched and sex-matched healthy individuals (mean age 52.7 ±â€Š10.5 years, 37.5% men) as control. Pressure-strain loop derived myocardial work incorporated global longitudinal strain from speckle tracking echocardiography with brachial artery cuff pressure. Postsystolic strain index (PSI) was defined by the percentage of postsystolic shortening over peak strain. Diastolic dyssynchrony was assessed by standard deviation of time to peak early diastolic strain rate (TDSr-SD) of 18 segments, and maximal difference of time to peak early diastolic strain rate (TDSr-MD) between any two segments. RESULTS: After multivariate regression analysis, global myocardial work index (GWI) was independently correlated with TDSr-SD (B = -0.498, P = 0.001) and TDSr-MD (B = -0.513, P = 0.001). Global myocardial constructive work (GCW) was independently correlated with TDSr-SD (B = -0.334, P = 0.025) and TDSr-MD (B = -0.397, P = 0.007). Global myocardial wasted work (GWW) was independently correlated with PSI (B = 0.358, P = 0.019). Global myocardial work efficiency (GWE) was lower in hypertensive patients than healthy control (P = 0.001). The untreated hypertensive patients were different from the healthy individuals with higher TDSr-SD, TDSr-MD, GWI, GCW, GWW, and PSI (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the effect of diastolic dyssynchrony mainly influenced constructive work, whereas postsystolic shortening affected wasted work in early untreated hypertension.

Value of layer-specific strain distribution patterns in hypertrophied myocardium from different etiologies.

BACKGROUND: Intrinsic myocardial mechanics might have different patterns because of the different etiologies of myocardial hypertrophy. We used layer-specific strain to compare those with aortic stenosis (AS) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and examined the differences in strain distribution pattern and for their clinical implications. METHODS: Comprehensive echocardiography was done in 3 groups: 129 with moderate-to-severe AS, 172 consecutive patients with HCM, and 58 healthy controls. Left ventricle (LV) layer-specific deformation parameters were obtained using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography. The transmural strain gradient was defined as the strain difference between subendocardial and subepicardial myocardium. Both diseased groups were further divided based on the median value of transmural strain gradient for the hemodynamics correlation. RESULTS: Compared with the HCM group, the AS group had more preserved transmural longitudinal strain gradient (4.49 ±â€¯1.3% vs. 3.61 ±â€¯1.2%, p < 0.001), which was not significantly different from that of the healthy controls (4.49 ±â€¯1.3% vs. 4.54 ±â€¯1.0%, p = 0.975). And only in AS group the transmural circumferential strain correlated with myocardium mass index (r = -0.237, p = 0.008), and the hemodynamic profiles (LV ejection fraction and LA pressure) were correlated well with transmural strain gradient, in that the lower subgroup had a significantly lower LV ejection fraction and higher average E/E'. CONCLUSIONS: Myocardium hypertrophy from different etiology resulted in different layer-specific strain distribution pattern. The loss of an adequate transmural strain gradient correlated with hemodynamics and might reflect intrinsic myocardial dysfunction.

Independent and additive interaction between tumor necrosis factor ß +252 polymorphisms and chronic hepatitis B and C virus infection on risk and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: a case-control study.

To assess the contribution of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)ß +252 polymorphisms to risk and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we enrolled 150 pairs of sex- and age-matched patients with HCC, patients with cirrhosis alone, and unrelated healthy controls. TNFß +252 genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction with restriction fragment length polymorphism. Multivariate analysis indicated that TNFß G/G genotype [odds ratio (OR), 3.64; 95%CI, 1.49-8.91], hepatitis B surface antigen (OR, 16.38; 95%CI, 8.30-32.33), and antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) (OR, 39.11; 95%CI, 14.83-103.14) were independent risk factors for HCC. There was an additive interaction between TNFß G/G genotype and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)/HCV infection (synergy index=1.15). Multivariate analysis indicated that factors associated with TNFß G/G genotype included cirrhosis with Child-Pugh C (OR, 4.06; 95%CI, 1.34-12.29), thrombocytopenia (OR, 6.55; 95%CI, 1.46-29.43), and higher serum α-fetoprotein concentration (OR, 2.53; 95%CI, 1.14-5.62). Patients with TNFß G/G genotype had poor cumulative survival (p=0.005). Cox proportional hazard model indicated that TNFß G/G genotype was a biomarker for poor HCC survival (hazard ratio, 1.70; 95%CI, 1.07-2.69). In conclusion, there are independent and additive effects between TNFß G/G genotype and chronic HBV/HCV infection on risk for HCC. It is a biomarker for poor HCC survival. Carriage of this genotype correlates with disease severity and advanced hepatic fibrosis, which may contribute to a higher risk and poor survival of HCC. Chronic HBV/HCV infected subjects with this genotype should receive more intensive surveillance for early detection of HCC.

Left ventricular function assessed by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in long-term survivors of Hodgkin's lymphoma treated by mediastinal radiotherapy with or without anthracycline therapy.

Anthracycline therapy is well known for its adverse cardiac effects. However, few studies have been performed of the long-term follow-up of myocardial function in adult survivors of Hodgkin's lymphoma receiving anthracycline. Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography is an accurate angle-independent modality for the quantification of left ventricular (LV) function. The aim of the present study was to investigate the long-term effect of anthracycline on LV systolic function. Echocardiography was performed in 47 survivors of Hodgkin's lymphoma 22 ± 2 years after successful mediastinal radiotherapy with (n = 27) or without (n = 20) anthracycline (doxorubicin) treatment and in 20 healthy controls. LV function was assessed by the LV ejection fraction and global longitudinal and circumferential strain. Both patient groups had received a similar dosage of radiation, and doxorubicin was given at a total dose of 309 ± 92 mg. The global longitudinal strain was reduced in patients receiving anthracycline with mediastinal radiotherapy compared to the other group receiving mediastinal radiotherapy alone or combined radiotherapy and regimens without anthracyclines (-16.1 ± 1.9% vs -17.5 ± 1.7%, respectively, p <0.05). Both patient groups had reduced strain compared to the healthy controls (-20.4 ± 1.7%, both p <0.001). The circumferential strain was also reduced in the treatment groups (-18.3 ± 3.2% and -17.8 ± 3.6% vs -22.5 ± 2.1%, both p <0.001). The LV ejection fraction did not differ between the patient groups (55 ± 8% vs 56 ± 6%, p = 1.0) but was reduced compared to that of the controls (62 ± 5%, both p <0.05). In conclusion, myocardial function was reduced in the survivors of Hodgkin's lymphoma 2 decades after successful treatment consisting of mediastinal radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. Patients receiving anthracycline therapy had additional negative long-tem effects on LV systolic function.

Tuberculous constrictive pericarditis with concurrent active pulmonary tuberculous infection: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: In some particular endemic area, it is not uncommon to see patients with tuberculosis pericarditis. However, it takes a period of time from tuberculous pericarditis to constrictive pericarditis. There is still no report of tuberculous constrictive pericarditis concurrent with active pulmonary TB infection in a patient without previous pulmonary TB infection history. Therefore, we reported a TB constrictive pericarditis with rare disease progress. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 63-year-old Taiwanese man with tuberculous constrictive pericarditis concurrent with active pulmonary tuberculous infection presenting with progressive extremities edema, puffy face, abdominal distension and dyspnea on exertion found to be caused by right heart failure. The patient was cured by pericardial stripping and anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy. We reviewed other cases of tuberculous constrictive pericarditis from the literature and described the peculiarities of this case. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid diagnosis and treatment of constrictive pericarditis are crucial to reduce mortality. In some endemic areas, Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection should be taken into consideration during diagnostic evaluations for constrictive pericarditis. Surgical intervention is still the treatment of choice when the patient has the symptoms or signs of pericardial constriction and right heart failure. Our case is a constant reminder that active Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection does present itself with uncommon presentations.

Independent and additive interactive effects among tumor necrosis factor-alpha polymorphisms, substance use habits, and chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection on risk for hepatocellular carcinoma.

We conducted a case-control study to assess the roles of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha polymorphisms, substance use habits, and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We enrolled 200 pairs of sex- and age-matched patients with HCC and unrelated healthy controls. TNF-alpha polymorphisms were detected with polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. Serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) were detected. We used a structured questionnaire to obtain information about substance use habits.Multivariate analysis indicated that TNF308.2 allele (odds ratio [OR], 3.23; p = 0.011), habitual betel quid chewing (OR, 3.70; p = 0.011), HBsAg (OR, 23.62; p = 0.0001), and anti-HCV (OR, 38.73; p = 0.0001) were independent risk factors for HCC. Having at least 2 substance use habits was associated with risk for HCC. The more substance use habits, the higher the OR for HCC (p(for trend) = 0.0001). There were additive interactions among TNF308.2 allele, substance use habits, and chronic HBV/HCV infection. Multivariate analysis indicated that TNF308.2 allele (p = 0.001), cigarette smoking (p = 0.0001), and alcohol drinking (p = 0.0001) were independent risk factors for habitual betel quid chewing. Moreover, patients harboring the TNF308.2 allele and/or those with habits of substance use had low serum albumin concentration and platelet count (each p = 0.0001). In conclusion, there are independent and additive interactive effects among the TNF308.2 allele, substance use habits, and chronic HBV/HCV infection on the risk for HCC. Substance use habits or carrying the TNF308.2 allele correlates with disease severity and hepatic fibrosis, which may contribute to higher risks for HCC.