• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• 제33권2호
• /
• pp.125-129
• /
• 2016

Stress induced cardiomyopathy (SC) is characterized by transient left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in the absence of coronary artery disease. We report on a patient with panhypopituitarism who developed SC resulting from withdrawal of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). A 52-year-old male visited our hospital for progressively worsening dyspnea. The patient had discontinued HRT 7 days ago, which had been administered for 18 months after transsphenoidal adenomectomy for pituitary macroadenoma. Initial electrocardiogram showed marked sinus bradycardia. Transthoracic echocardiography showed apical ballooning with an LV ejection fraction of 25%. No significant obstructive lesions were observed on coronary angiography. With a clinical diagnosis of SC associated with panhypopituitarism, HRT was restarted, including glucocorticoid and thyroxine, along with standard heart failure management. His LV function had normalized at 2-month follow-up. He remains asymptomatic and administration of beta-blocker and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor were discontinued He currently only requires HRT.

• 대한의생명과학회지
• /
• 제17권4호
• /
• pp.321-328
• /
• 2011

This study divided a group of healthy adults aged 20 or older who had a health examination at J General Hospital in Gyeonggi Province into three groups according to the degrees of metabolic syndrome risk factors. They include the normal group (n=58), the pre-metabolic syndrome group (n=112) and the metabolic syndrome group (n=32). They were compared in exercise capacity and cardiac structure and function and impacts of exercise capacity on the cardiac diastolic function. All the groups took echocardiography to have their cardiac structures and functions examined and an exercise stress test to have their exercise capacity measured. The research findings were as follows: There were differences in exercise capacity, cardiac structure, and diastolic heart function among three groups. Between exercise capacity and diastolic heart function was found to be related. It turned out exercise capacity affected the cardiac diastolic functions. In conclusion, there were significant differences in exercise capacity between the normal group and the metabolic syndrome group and in the cardiac structure and function among the normal, metabolic syndrome, and pre-metabolic syndrome group. In addition, METs (metabolic equivalents) and heart rate recovery of exercise capacity turned out to affect cardiac diastolic functions.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제56권3호
• /
• pp.101-106
• /
• 2013

Despite developments in surgical techniques and other interventions, right ventricular (RV) failure remains an important clinical problem in several congenital heart diseases (CHD). RV function is one of the most important predictors of mortality and morbidity in patients with CHD. RV failure is a progressive disorder that begins with myocardial injury or stress, neurohormonal activation, cytokine activation, altered gene expression, and ventricular remodeling. Pressure-overload RV failure caused by RV outflow tract obstruction after total correction of tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary stenosis, atrial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries, congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, and systemic RV failure after the Fontan operation. Volume-overload RV failure may be caused by atrial septal defect, pulmonary regurgitation, or tricuspid regurgitation. Although the measurement of RV function is difficult because of many reasons, the right ventricle can be evaluated using both imaging and functional modalities. In clinical practice, echocardiography is the primary mode for the evaluation of RV structure and function. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is increasingly used for evaluating RV structure and function. A comprehensive evaluation of RV function may lead to early and optimal management of RV failure in patients with CHD.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제44권3호
• /
• pp.483-489
• /
• 2020

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) has been known to possess many ginsenosides. These ginsenosides are used for curing cardiovascular problems. The present study show the protective potential of KRG against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced myocardial dysfunction, by assessing electrocardiographic, hemodynamic, and biochemical parameters and histopathological findings. Methods: Animals were fed a standard chow and adjusted to their environment for 3 days before the experiments. Next, the rats were equally divided into five groups (n = 9, each group). The animals were administered with KRG (250 and 500 mg/kg) for 10 days and injected with DOX (20 mg/kg, subcutaneously, twice at a 24-h interval) on the 8th and 9th day. Electrocardiography and echocardiography were performed to study hemodynamics. Plasma levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde were measured. In addition, the dose of troponin I and activity of myeloperoxidase in serum and cardiac tissue were analyzed, and the histopathological findings were evaluated using light microscopy. Results: Administration of KRG at a dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg recovered electrocardiographic changes, ejection fraction, fractional shortening, left ventricular systolic pressure, the maximal rate of change in left ventricle contraction (-dP/dt_max), and left ventricle relaxation (-dP/dt_max). In addition, KRG treatment significantly normalized the oxidative stress markers in plasma, dose dependently. In addition, the values of troponin I and myeloperoxidase were ameliorated by KRG treatment, dose dependently. And, KRG treatment showed better histopathological findings when compared with the DOX control group. Conclusion: These mean that KRG mitigates myocardial damage by modulating the hemodynamics, histopathological abnormality, and oxidative stress related to DOX-induced cardiomyopathy in rats. The results of the present study show protective effects of KRG on cardiac toxicity.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제45권2호
• /
• pp.214-222
• /
• 2002

목 적 : Anthracylines계 약물은 매우 효과적이며 널리 사용되고 있는 항암제이다. 그러나 심근손상이라는 중요한 합병증이 있으며 이는 종종 중하거나 심지어는 치명적이다. 본 연구의 목적은 anthracyacline을 사용했던 소아 암환자에서 비침습적이고 비교적 안전한 심장초음파를 이용하여, 기존의 지표에 비해 좀 더 정확하고 주위변수의 영향을 덜 받으면서 심근손상 여부를 판정하기 위해 고안되었다. 방 법 : Adriamycin을 투여 받았던 17명의 환자군과 20명의 대조군을 대상으로 좌심실 내경, 심실벽 긴장도 그리고 수축기능이 평가되었다. 17명의 환자에 대해서는 2번에 걸쳐 검사가 시행되었는데, 휴식상태(group 1)와 운동을 하고 난후(group 2)에 검사를 각각 시행하였다. 결 과 : 이완기 말 좌심실 내경은 두 군에서 모두 정상 대조군에 비해 감소된 소견을 보였고 통계적으로 의미가 있었다. 그러나 두 군간의 통계적인 차이는 없었다. 이완기 말 좌심실 용적과 심실벽 크기는 두군에서 정상 대조군에 비해 감소된 소견을 보였으며, 통계적으로 모두 의미가 있었다. Group 2에서 group 1보다 낮은 값을 보였으나, 두 군간의 통계적인 의미는 없었다. 수축기말 경선 긴장도는 두 군에서 모두 증가하였으며, group 1에서 group 2 보다 낮은 값을 보였으나, 두 군간의 통계적인 의미는 없었다. 분획단축으로 평가된 수축능력은 group 1에서는 17명 중 5명(29%)에서 비정상적인 결과를 나타내었고, group 2에서는 17명 중 6명(35%)에서 수축능력의 이상을 나타내었다. 그러나 nonparametric testing으로 검정한 결과 두 군간의 특이한 차이는 없었다. 한편, 부하 비의존적 지표인 원주상 섬유 단축속도와 수축기말 경선 긴장도와의 관계에 있어서는 두 군간에 차이가 있음이 관찰되었는데, group 1에서 17명 중 7명(41%), group 2에서는 17명 중 12명(71%)에서 현저한 비정상 변화를 보였으며, 이는 통계적으로 의미가 있었다. 결 론 : 분획단축과 같은 부하 의존적 수축기 지표는 전부하 혹은 후부하의 보상적 변화에 의해서 비정상소견을 보이지 않을 수 있으며, 이로 인해 수축력의 장애가 가려질 수 있다. 따라서 부하 비의존적 지표인 수축기 말 압력과 내경과의 기울기 관계 및 운동 후 수축기말 심실벽 긴장에 따른 원주상 섬유 단축속도의 변화를 규명함으로써 심장의 수축능력을 지속적으로 감시하는 것이 심근손상의 조기발견에 도움이 될 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• 제47권4호
• /
• pp.333-343
• /
• 2014

Background: A preclinical study was conducted for evaluating a valved conduit manufactured with a glutaraldehyde (GA)-fixed bovine pericardium treated using an anticalcification protocol. Methods: Bovine pericardia were decellularized, fixed with GA in an organic solvent, and detoxified. We prepared a valved conduit using these bovine pericardia and a specially designed mold. The valved conduit was placed under in vitro circulation by using a mock circulation model, and the durability under mechanical stress was evaluated for 2 months. The valved conduit was implanted into the right ventricular outflow tract of a goat, and the hemodynamic, radiologic, histopathologic, and biochemical results were obtained for 6 months after the implantation. Results: The in vitro mock circulation demonstrated that valve motion was good and that the valved conduit had good gross and microscopic findings. The evaluation of echocardiography and cardiac catheterization demonstrated the good hemodynamic status and function of the pulmonary xenograft valve 6 months after the implantation. According to specimen radiography and a histopathologic examination, the durability of the xenografts was well preserved without calcification at 6 months after the implantation. The calcium and inorganic phosphorus concentrations of the explanted xenografts were low at 6 months after the implantation. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that our synergistic employment of multiple anticalcification therapies has promising safety and efficacy in the future clinical study.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제21권5호
• /
• pp.371-380
• /
• 2013

Doxorubicin is still main drug in chemotherapy with limitation of use due to adverse drug reaction. Increased oxidative stress and alteration of nitric oxide control have been involved in cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin (DOX). A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase (ADAMs) are transmembrane ectoproteases to regulate cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, but role in cardiac disease is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether DOX activates peroxynitrite and ADAM 10 and thus ADAM and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) induce cardiac remodeling in DOX-induced cardiomyopathy. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to cardiomyopathy by DOX (6 times of 2.5 mg/kg DOX over 2-weeks), and were randomized as four groups. Then followed by 3, 5, 7, and 14 days after cessation of DOX injection. DOX-injected animals significantly decreased left ventricular fractional shortening compared with control by M-mode echocardiography. The expressions of cardiac nitrotyrosine by immunohistochemistry were significant increased, and persisted for 2 weeks following the last injection. The expression of eNOS was increased by 1.9 times (p<0.05), and iNOS was marked increased in DOX-heart compared with control (p<0.001). Compared to control rats, cardiac ADAM10- and MMP 9- protein expressions increased by 20 times, and active/total MMP 9 proteolytic activity showed increase tendency at day 14 after cessation of DOX injection (n=10, each group). DOX-treated $H_9C_2$ cell showed increased ADAM10 protein expression with dose-dependency (p<0.01) and morphometric changes showed the increase of ventricular interstitial, nonvascular collagen deposition. These data suggest that activation of cardiac peroxynitrite with increased iNOS expression and ADAM 10-dependent MMP 9 expression may be a molecular mechanism that contributes to left ventricular remodeling in DOXinduced cardiomyopathy.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• 제43권3호
• /
• pp.159-164
• /
• 2009

Coronary artery disease is on the rise over the world. Myocardial perfusion SPECT is a well established technique to detect coronary artery disease and to assess left ventricular function. In addition, it has the unique ability to predict the prognosis of the patients. Moreover, the application of ECC-gated images provided the quantitatve data and improved the accuracy. This approach has been proved to be cost-effective and suitable for the emerging economies as well as developed countries. However, the utilization of nuclear cardiology procedures vary widely considering the different countries and region of the world. Korea exits 2-3 times less utilization than Japan, and 20 times than the United States. Recently, with the emerging of new technology, namely cardiac CT, cardiac MR and stress echocardiography, the clinical usefulness of nuclear cardiology has been called in question and its role has been redefined. For the proper promotion of nuclear cardiology, special educations should be conducted since the nuclear cardiology has the contact points between nuclear medicine and cardiology. Several innovations are in horizon which will impact the diagnostic accuracy as well as imaging time and cost savings. Development of new tracers, gamma camera technology and hybrid systems will open the new avenue in cardiac imaging. The future of nuclear cardiology based on molecular imaging is very exciting. The newly defined biologic targets involving atherosclerosis and vascular vulnerability will allow the answers for the key clinical questions. Hybrid techniques including SPECT/CT indicate the direction in which clinical nuclear cardiology may be headed in the immediate future. To what extent nuclear cardiology will be passively absorbed by other modalities, or will actively incorporate other modalities, is up to the present and next generation of nuclear cardiologists.

• 대한핵의학회지
• /
• 제39권2호
• /
• pp.94-99
• /
• 2005

Electrocardiogram-gated single photon omission computed tomography (SPECT) provides valuable information in the assessment of both myocardial perfusion and ventricular function. Tl-201 is a suboptimal isotope for gating. Tl-201 images are more blurred compared with Tc-99m tracers due to the increased amount of scattered photons and use of a smooth filter. The average myocardial count densities are approximately one-half those of conventional technetium tracers. However, Tl-201 is still widely used because of its well-established utility for assessing myocardial perfusion, viability and risk stratification. Gated SPECT with Tl-201 enables us to assess both post-stress and rest left ventricular volume and function. Previous studies with gated Tl-201 SPECT measurements of ejection fraction (EF), end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV) have shown high correlation with first-pass radionuclide angiography, gated blood pool scan, Tc-99m-MIBI gated SPECT, contrast ventriculography, echocardiography, and 3-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging. However, problems related to these studies include few agreement data of EDV and ESV, use of a reference method that is likely to have the same systemic errors (gated Tc-99m-MIBI SPECT), and other technical factors related to the count density of gated SPECT. With optimization of gated imaging protocols and more validation studies, gated Tl-201 SPECT would be an accurate method to provide perfusion and function information in patients with coronary artery disease.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
• /
• 제31권2호
• /
• pp.71-82
• /
• 2023

BACKGROUND: Cardiac magnetic resonance fingerprinting (cMRF) enables simultaneous mapping of myocardial T1 and T2 with very short acquisition times. Breathing maneuvers have been utilized as a vasoactive stress test to dynamically characterize myocardial tissue in vivo. We tested the feasibility of sequential, rapid cMRF acquisitions during breathing maneuvers to quantify myocardial T1 and T2 changes. METHODS: We measured T1 and T2 values using conventional T1 and T2-mapping techniques (modified look locker inversion [MOLLI] and T2-prepared balanced-steady state free precession), and a 15 heartbeat (15-hb) and rapid 5-hb cMRF sequence in a phantom and in 9 healthy volunteers. The cMRF_5-hb sequence was also used to dynamically assess T1 and T2 changes over the course of a vasoactive combined breathing maneuver. RESULTS: In healthy volunteers, the mean myocardial T1 of the different mapping methodologies were: MOLLI 1,224 ± 81 ms, cMRF_15-hb 1,359 ± 97 ms, and cMRF_5-hb 1,357 ± 76 ms. The mean myocardial T2 measured with the conventional mapping technique was 41.7 ± 6.7 ms, while for cMRF_15-hb 29.6 ± 5.8 ms and cMRF_5-hb 30.5 ± 5.8 ms. T2 was reduced with vasoconstriction (post-hyperventilation compared to a baseline resting state) (30.15 ± 1.53 ms vs. 27.99 ± 2.07 ms, p = 0.02), while T1 did not change with hyperventilation. During the vasodilatory breath-hold, no significant change of myocardial T1 and T2 was observed. CONCLUSIONS: cMRF_5-hb enables simultaneous mapping of myocardial T1 and T2, and may be used to track dynamic changes of myocardial T1 and T2 during vasoactive combined breathing maneuvers.