Two-dimensional echocardiographic findings of pulmonary valve cyst secondary to pulmonary valvuloplasty.

Real time two-dimensional transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a mobile echolucent mass attached to the pulmonary valve in a 25-year-old adult, 20 years following balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty. The mass was surgically excised and pathology showed it to be a cyst.

An analysis of the efficacy and safety of enhanced external counterpulsation at West Virginia University Hospitals.

A retrospective analysis was conducted of 79 consecutive patients who underwent enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) at West Virginia University Hospitals during the period of November 1998 to September 2005 to determine its efficacy and safety in treating angina. A chart review and/or phone survey was performed to analyze pertinent clinical data (sublingual nitroglycerin use and angina class) pre and post EECP. A total of 60 (76%) patients who were referred for EECP successfully finished the 35 treatments. Seventy-five percent of the patient population improved at least one angina class after a full course of treatment. Therapy was discontinued due to adverse effects in 12 (15%) patients. Statistically significant improvements in angina class and reduction in anti-angina medications were observed in every co-morbid subgroup analyzed, including patients with peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, smoking, Post-MI, and LVEF < 40% (P < .05, Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test). Overall, EECP was effective in improving angina as reflected in a substantial reduction in antiangina medications in 59 (75%) patients.

Effect of intensive lifestyle changes on endothelial function and on inflammatory markers of atherosclerosis.

Intensive lifestyle changes have been shown to regress atherosclerosis, improve cardiovascular risk profiles, and decrease angina pectoris and cardiac events. We evaluated the influence of the Multisite Cardiac Lifestyle Intervention Program, an ongoing health insurance-covered lifestyle intervention conducted at our site, on endothelial function and inflammatory markers of atherosclerosis in this pilot study. Twenty-seven participants with coronary artery disease (CAD) and/or risk factors for CAD (nonsmokers, 14 men; mean age 56 years) were enrolled in the experimental group and asked to make changes in diet (10% calories from fat, plant based), engage in moderate exercise (3 hours/week), and practice stress management (1 hour/day). Twenty historically (age, gender, CAD, and CAD risk factors) matched participants were enrolled in the control group with usual standard of care. At baseline endothelium-dependent brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) was performed in the 2 groups. Serum markers of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and angiogenesis were performed only in the experimental group. After 12 weeks, FMD had improved in the experimental group from a baseline of 4.23 + or - 0.13 to 4.65 + or - 0.15 mm, whereas in the control group it decreased from 4.62 + or - 0.16 to 4.48 + or - 0.17 mm. Changes were significantly different in favor of the experimental group (p <0.0001). Also, significant decreases occurred in C-reactive protein (from 2.07 + or - 0.57 to 1.6 + or - 0.43 mg/L, p = 0.03) and interleukin-6 (from 2.52 + or - 0.62 to 1.23 + or - 0.3 pg/ml, p = 0.02) after 12 weeks. Significant improvement in FMD, C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6 with intensive lifestyle changes in the experimental group suggests > or = 1 potential mechanism underlying the clinical benefits seen in previous trials.

Two- and three-dimensional transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic findings in epithelioid hemangioma involving the mitral valve.

We are describing two-dimensional and live/real time three-dimensional transthoracic as well as two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic findings in an elderly patient with epithelioid hemangioma involving the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve.