Postinfarction ventricular septal defect is a life-threatening disorder that may be adequately treated if the diagnosis is obtained promptly. Two-dimensional color Doppler echocardiography is a reliable tool for this diagnosis and gives additional information regarding its location, size, and shape. The authors emphasize the feasibility of this method to depict a particular form of postinfarction interventricular septal rupture, which developed an aneurysm inside the right ventricular cavity. Its characteristics were completely defined by color Doppler echocardiography and confirmed at surgery. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 13, May 1996)
The flow of a saline-glycerin solution with sand particles through a continuous in vitro flow system was imaged by using two commercially available Doppler color flow mapping systems in a power mode (Toshiba SSH-160A and Advanced Technology Laboratories [ATL] Ultramark 9). The images generated from seven solutions with particle concentrations ranging from 0.0001 x 10(12) to 6 x 10(12) particles/liter and a mean velocity of 30 cm/s measured with use of pulsed Doppler ultrasound were used to examine the dependence of the power mode on particle concentration. To examine the velocity dependence, 20 mean velocities ranging from 0.1 to 0.53 m/s (3 to 30 liters/min) and three particle concentrations (1, 3 and 6 x 10(12) particles/liter) in the solution were used. The recorded images were digitized and analyzed off-line. The SUM values, or the adjusted color intensity levels in delineated areas of interest in the displayed flow, were compared. In general, the power mode was sensitive in displaying slower velocity flows; in the selected particle concentration and velocity ranges, it was both velocity and concentration dependent. The specific dependence differed for the two color flow mapping systems.
To evaluate the role of losartan on left ventricular (LV) function of hypertensive patients. Hypertensive patients (n =19) underwent evaluation of systolic and diastolic LV function, using radionuclide ventriculography (RVG), before and at 3 mo into the treatment with the angiotensin II antagonist losartan. All patients underwent a baseline 12 lead ECG and an echocardiogram (ECHO), which was also repeated at 3 mo into treatment. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM and statistics were performed using paired t-test. A p value <_ 0.05 was considered significant. Treatment with losartan for 3 mo had no effect on LV mass measured by echo (141 ± 5 vs. 139 ± 6 g/m2). The LV ejection fraction, measured by RVG, was unchanged by treatment when compared to the baseline study (58 ± 2 % vs. 57 ± 2% , respectivelly, p = 0.49). Considering all patients involved in the study (n =19), the LV "Peak Filling Rate" (PFR), a parameter of diastolic function measured by RVG, was also unchanged by treatment when compared to baseline (2.5 ± 0.2 EDV/s vs. 2.5 ± 0.3 EDV/s, respectively, p = 0.9). However the analysis of those patients with evidence of diastolic dysfunction (n =12) on the baseline RVG (PFR < 2.5 EVD/s), demonstrated significant improvement of LV filling after therapy with losartan (PFR =1.8 ± 0.1 EDV/s vs. 2.3 ± 0.2 EDV/s, respectively, p = 0.05). This change was associated with improvement of symptoms. Our results demonstrated that hypertensive patients with diastolic dysfunction on radionuclide ventriculography have significant improvement of ventricular filling at 3 mo into treatment with losartan. (Hypertens Res 1999; 22: 155-159)
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