• Clinical and Molecular Hepatology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.409-416
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• 2018

Background/Aims: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is an early manifestation of cardiac dysfunction in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). However, the effect of LVDD on survival has not been clarified, especially in decompensated LC. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 70 patients with decompensated LC, including ascites or variceal bleeding, at Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital from April 2013 to April 2015. The cardiac function of these patients was evaluated using 2D echocardiography with tissue Doppler imaging. The diagnosis of LVDD was based on the American Society of Echocardiography guidelines. The primary endpoint was overall survival. Results: Forty-four patients (62.9%) had LVDD. During follow-up (22.3 months), 18 patients died (16 with LVDD and 2 without LVDD). The survival rate was significantly lower in patients with LVDD than in those without LVDD (31.1 months vs. 42.6 months, P=0.01). In a multivariate analysis, the Child-Pugh score and LVDD were independent predictors of survival. Moreover, patients with a ratio of early filling velocity to early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E/e') ${\geq}10$ (LVDD grade 2) had lower survival than patients with E/e' ratio < 10. Conclusions: The presence of LVDD is associated with poor survival in patients with decompensated LC. Therefore, it may be important to monitor and closely follow LVDD patients.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.54-57
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• 2017

A 1-year-old castrated male Schnauzer dog was presented with heart murmur. Auscultation revealed systolic murmur located at the left heart base (grade 5/6). There were no remarkable findings on thoracic radiographs. Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed subaortic tunnel-like obstruction at the entrance to the left ventricular outflow tract. Anterior mitral valve leaflet appeared to be tethered to septum with minimal motion. Chordae tendineae was abnormally thickened. Color Doppler analysis revealed turbulent flow starting below the aortic valve. Mitral regurgitation was presented during systole. Spectral Doppler recordings revealed high velocity flow through the aorta and mitral regurgitation. Based on echocardiographic examination, the dog was diagnosed with subaortic stenosis concurrent with mitral dysplasia. The patient was medicated with ${\beta}-blocker$ and diuretics. It has been doing well without apparent clinical signs at 2 year after the diagnosis.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.314-318
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• 2004

A 7-month-old 8.2 kg female Siberian Husky with history of exercise intolerance, delayed growth, and tachypnea was presented to Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Kyungpook National University. A holosystolic murmur was identified in cardiac ausculation. In electrocardiography, thoracic radiographs, and ultrasonography, a right axis deviation, enlarged right ventricle, stenotic main pulmonary artery, large ventricular septal defect, marked right ventricle hypertrophy, and overriding aorta with dilation were identified. The color Doppler examination showed the left-to-right shunting of blood via interventricular septal defect and the blood flow streams converging from the right and left ventricles into the aorta. The dog was diagnosed as tetralogy of Fallot. The current state of the dog is well-tolerated without any specific medication.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.523-528
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• 1999

Subaortic stenosis in a 2.9kg, 3-month-old pug dog and a 11 kg, 4-month-old Rott -weiler dog showing signs of dyspnea, tachypnea, anorexia, exercise intolerance and depression was diagnosed with electrocardiography, thoracic radiography and ultrasonographic evaluation. In electrocardiography, PR interval widening, R wave amplitude increase in lead II in case 2, ST segment depression and left axis deviation in case 1 and 2 were identified. In thoracic radiographs, enlarged left ventricle and atrium, caudal displacement of left crus of diaphragm and caudal part of cranial mediastinum widening were identified in ventrodorsal view. In lateral view, left ventricular enlargement, secondary dorsal deviation of trachea and post-stenotic dilation of aorta were seen. Also, edematous pulmonary changes were shown in peri-hilar area. In ultrasonographic examination, left ventricular dilatation, pericardial effusion and subaortic valvular ridge were seen with real time B-mode in right parasternal long axis view. Aortic valve regurgitation was identified in color-Doppler mode.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 1984

Balancing left/right cardiac output is essential for the automatic control of total artificial hearts(TAH). A fuzzy logic-based control method is presented. We use left atrial pressure(LAP) and right atrial pressure(RAP) as indicators for left/right balancing. The fuzzy controller has four input variables which are measured LAP and RAP and their gradients. Desired variations in left cardiac output(LCO) and right cardiac output(RCO) are calculated to keep LAP and RAP within the Physiological limits. Computer simulations were performed to adjust fuzzy membership functions for variables and verify this control method. Results from simulations showed that LAP and RAP returned to the physiological limits while AoP and PAP stayed within the physiological limits.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.979-986
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• 1991

From October 1988 to November 1989, seven patients underwent valve replacement during the active phase of native valve endocarditis. There were 4 males and 3 females whose mean age was 41 years[range, 16 to 68 years]. Preoperative two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography showed vegetations and severe valvular regurgitation in all patients. Blood cultures were positive in 4, and negative in 3 patients Organisms were alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus in 2, Staphylococcus epidermidis in 1, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in 1 patient Valve tissue cultures were negative in all patients. Intravenous antibiotic therapy had been done for 3 to 18 days in 5 patients pre-operatively and was not done in 2 patients, Indications for operation were heart failure in h, and systemic emboli in 1 patient. The aortic valve was involved in 3, mitral in 1, and both aortic and mitral in 3 patients, One operative death[14.4%] occurred in patient with cardiogenic shock before operation. Late death occurred in one on 14 months after operation. The remaining 5 patients were followed up over a two year period in good condition. In conclusion, native valve endocarditis with severe heart failure must be considered for early operation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.336-339
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• 2019

A castrated, 6-year-old, male Turkish Angora cat with a history of respiratory distress was referred to the hospital. Physical examination revealed a cardiac murmur, and thoracic radiographic findings revealed pleural effusion and cardiomegaly. Echocardiography showed abnormality of the tricuspid and mitral valve, and color-flow Doppler imaging revealed regurgitation between both atrium and ventricle. Based on the echocardiographic examination, tricuspid valve dysplasia concurrent with mitral valve dysplasia was diagnosed. However, the patient died a week after treatment. In necropsy, bilateral atrioventricular valve dysplasia and left ventricular hypertrophy were confirmed. This is the first report to describe a middle age Turkish angora cat having bilateral atrioventricular valve dysplasia which has high mortality and only been reported rarely in cats. This case report also describes its clinical signs, diagnostic imaging findings, treatment and discussions how the patient could live long.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.85-95
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• 2023

BACKGROUND: The prognostic utility of follow-up transthoracic echocardiography (FU-TTE) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is unclear, specifically in terms of whether changes in echocardiographic parameters in routine FU-TTE parameters are associated with cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: From 2010 to 2017, 162 patients with HCM were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Using echocardiography, HCM was diagnosed based on morphological criteria. Patients with other diseases that cause cardiac hypertrophy were excluded. TTE parameters at baseline and FU were analyzed. FU-TTE was designated as the last recorded value in patients who did not develop any cardiovascular event or the latest exam before event development. Clinical outcomes were acute heart failure, cardiac death, arrhythmia, ischemic stroke, and cardiogenic syncope. RESULTS: Median interval between the baseline TTE and FU-TTE was 3.3 years. Median clinical FU duration was 4.7 years. Septal trans-mitral velocity/mitral annular tissue Doppler velocity (E/e'), tricuspid regurgitation velocity, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and left atrial volume index (LAVI) at baseline were recorded. LVEF, LAVI, and E/e' values were associated with poor outcomes. However, no delta values predicted HCM-related cardiovascular outcomes. Logistic regression models incorporating changes in TTE parameters had no significant findings. Baseline LAVI was the best predictor of a poor prognosis. In survival analysis, an already enlarged or increased size LAVI was associated with poorer clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in echocardiographic parameters extracted from TTE did not assist in predicting clinical outcomes. Cross-sectionally evaluated TTE parameters were superior to changes in TTE parameters between baseline and FU at predicting cardiovascular events.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.476-483
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• 2007

Purpose : The objective of this study was to assess ventricular function by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) who have been undergoing open heart surgery (OHS) using cardiopulmonary bypass. We tried to compare the parameters of tissue Doppler imaging before and after OHS in patients with congenital heart disease. Methods : This study was conducted on 32 patients with CHD after OHS from January 2005 to December 2005 at Kyungpook National University hospital. Patients who underwent 2-D echocardiography before and after their OHS. All patients were divided into three groups, left ventricular volume overloading group (group 1), and right ventricular volume overloading group (group 2), and right ventricular pressure overloading group (group 3). The TDIs were examined before and 1 to 3 months after OHS. Peak early diastolic (E), and peak late diastolic (A) velocity of transmitral flow were measured by pulsed wave Doppler examination. Peak systolic (Sm), peak early diastolic (Em), and peak late diastolic (Am) velocity in apical 4-chamber and 2-chamber views were measured by TDI. The author calculated E/Em ratio. Results : The patients were 14 boys and 18 girls and the average age of patients was 2 years and 3 months. The congenital heart diseases which have to get OHS were ventricular septal defect (13 cases), atrial septal defect (7), atrioventricular septal defect (3), isolated pulmonary stenosis (2) and tetralogy of Fallot (7). There were significant decrease of Sm, Em, Am measured on tricuspid annulus and E/Em measured on mitral annulus in apical 4 chamber view (P<0.05). Conclusion : This study showed significant decrease of Sm, Em, Am measured on tricuspid annulus and E/Em measured on mitral annulus in apical 4 chamber view after OHS. These changes might be due to the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass in OHS and/or hemodynamic changes after correction of congenital heart disease. To clarify these changes, further study on more patients is needed.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.72-79
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• 2010

Purpose: Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and impaired diastolic function may occur early in systemic hypertension. Diastolic dysfunction is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI)-derived tissue velocity and strain rate are new parameters for assessing diastolic dysfunction. The aim of this study is to determine whether TDI and strain rate imaging (SRI) would improve the ability to recognize early impaired diastolic and systolic functions compared with conventional echocardiography in hypertensive adolescents. Methods: We included 38 hypertensive patients with systolic blood pressure above 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure above 90 mmHg. Ejection fraction and myocardial performance index (MPI) were estimated by conventional echocardiography. Peak systolic myocardial velocity, early diastolic myocardial velocity (Em), and peak late diastolic myocardial velocity (Am) were obtained by using TDI and SRI. Results: In the hypertensive group, interventricular septal thickness was significantly increased on M-mode echocardiography. Em/Am was significantly decreased at the mitral valve annulus. Among hypertensive subjects, the E strain rate at basal, mid, and apex was significantly decreased. Systolic strain was significantly decreased at the septum in the hypertensive group. Conclusion: Strain rate might be a useful new parameter for the quantification of both regional and global LV functions and could be used in long-term follow up in hypertensive patients. Early identification by SRI of subjects at risk for hypertensive and ventricular dysfunction may help to stratify risk and guide therapy. Further studies, including serial assessment of LV structure and function in a larger number of adolescents with hypertension, is necessary.