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SummaryBackground: Atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD) study by M-mode echocardiography can supply useful clinical information about left ventricular (LV) long-axis function.Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that AVPD estimation could be used to detect early hypertensive cardiomyopathy.Methods: The study population included 81 hypertensive patients with normal LV ejection fraction and fractional shortening, and 50 age-and gender-matched healthy controls. By utilizing M-mode and apical views, the following parameters were estimated: early mitral flow peak velocity (E) and deceleration time (DT), peak velocity of late mitral flow (A), A/E ratio, isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), total AVPD, AVPD motion during atrial systole (At), systolic AVPD (total AVPDAt), and At/total AVPD ratio.

Both ramipril and telmisartan improve echocardiographic left ventricular diastolic indices and reduce plasma BNP levels in diabetic patients; their combination yields an even better therapeutic effect.

Chronic radiation proctitis is a complication that occurs in patients who receive radiation therapy for pelvic malignancies. The common presentation is with rectal bleeding, but also rectal pain, diarrhea, tenesmus and even passage of mucus can occur. The optimal treatment of bleeding due to radiation proctitis remains unclear. Among various therapeutic options, medical management is generally ineffective and surgical intervention has a high incidence of morbidity. Promising advances have been made in endoscopic therapy, including argon plasma coagulation (APC), formalin application as well as new techniques such as radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation. APC is a safe, highly effective and long-lasting therapy in patients with rectal bleeding associated with radiation proctitis. It has been shown that several sessions of APC reduce the rate of bleeding and therefore the blood transfusion requirements. Moreover, the effect of treatment is long lasting. However, best results are achieved in patients with mild to moderate radiation proctitis, leaving space for alternative treatments for patients with more severe disease. In patients with severe or refractory radiation proctitis intra rectal formalin application is an appropriate treatment option. Radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation have shown efficacy as alternative methods in a limited number of patients with refractory chronic radiation proctitis.

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The assessment of the left and right ventricular long axis function by Doppler echocardiography was started many years ago with the use of M-mode. Two-dimensional echocardiography was subsequently used to study the longitudinal function of the left ventricle. The studies of that era led to useful conclusions. However, tissue Doppler imaging, a relatively new echocardiographic technique, recently became the first choice for such an assessment. Moreover, the advances of tissue tracking and strain rate also have an important contribution. New studies were conducted and new data derived for left and right ventricular function in various cardiac diseases. The aim of this review was to present the accumulated knowledge of the Doppler echocardiography study of the left ventricular long axis function and the relevant clinical implications.

The use of SAECG results in different patient classification in wide QRS complex category as compared to surface ECG. Furthermore, QRSd measured by SAECG is correlated with interventricular but not intraventricular dyssynchrony in heart failure patients.