BACKGROUND Identifying which patients with diastolic dysfunction will progress to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains challenging. The goal of this study is to determine whether increased vascular stiffness as identified on 2D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) serves as a biomarker for the development of HFpEF in patients with diastolic dysfunction. METHODS The s...

OBJECTIVES Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) is an echocardiographic technique that evaluates longitudinal myocardial tissue velocities during left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, relatively independently of loading conditions. Limited data are available regarding maternal cardiac function using TDI. The aim of this study was to construct reference charts for TDI indices in normal pregn...

Background and Objective Diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle is a mechanical abnormality diagnosed primarily by echocardiogram, and can be distinguished into three separate degrees based on the severity of reduction in passive compliance and active myocardial relaxation. Methods A literature search was performed for basic science studies, clinical studies and major practice guidelines o...

Assessment of left ventricular diastolic function in the critically ill patient remains a difficult issue in clinical practice. Combined use of routine transmitral and pulmonary venous Doppler patterns in conjunction with tissue Doppler imaging have been claimed to allow bedside diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction. Although in the previous issue of Critical Care it was clearly demonstrated there...

background: hypertension is a risk factor for many diseases. nutritional methods are considered as major tools in lifestyle modification for lowering blood pressure. the present study was conducted to determine the level of dietary adherence in hypertensive patients. methods: this descriptive-analytical study was performed in 2015, on hypertensive patients who were referred to heart clinic of s...

OBJECTIVES The effect of erythropoietin (EPO) on neonatal hearts is not well understood. The current hypothesis is that EPO has protective effects against ischaemia-reperfusion when administered prior to ischaemia induction. METHODS Systolic and diastolic indices, as well as the Akt and extracellular-regulated kinase (Erk) signalling pathways, were studied in vivo using a neonatal pig heart m...

M mode echocardiography was used in 10 normal subjects to study left ventricular dimension and function variables at identical heart rates during tachycardia induced by supine bicycle exercise or atrial pacing. Echocardiographic data were analysed independently by two observers. The maximum heart rate reached during atrial pacing was lower (mean (1SD) 148 (17) beats/min) than that reached durin...

myocardial infarction using Doppler echocardiography provides important prognostic information.1,2 Evaluating left atrium volume is a good way to estimate prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction as it indicates time and severity of diastolic dysfunction and longer term results of acute myocardial infarction.3,4 The present study evaluated the effect of left atrium volume on patie...

Method: A population-based cross-sectional study involving 350 adults was used. Information was obtained on background characteristics and risk factors of HPT defined as a systolic BP≥140 mmHg and/or a diastolic BP≥ 90 mmHg. Anthropometric indices and blood pressure were measured following standard procedures. Chi-square and binary logistic regression were used to determine associations between...