A novel three-dimensional and tissue Doppler echocardiographic index for diagnosing and prognosticating heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Introduction: The diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains challenging. In this study, a novel echocardiography index based on three-dimensional and tissue Doppler echocardiography for diagnosing and estimating prognosis in HFpEF. Materials and Methods: Patients with symptoms and/or signs of heart failure and normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≥50%) who underwent right heart catheterization were screened. Patients were divided based on pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) of ≥15 mmHg and PCWP <15 mmHg. A diagnosis of HFpEF was confirmed by PCWP of ≥15 mmHg according to ESC guidelines. A novel index was calculated by the ratio between stroke volume standardized to body surface area (SVI) and tissue Doppler mitral annulus systolic peak velocity S' (SVI/S'). Its diagnostic and prognostic values were determined. Results: A total of 104 patients (mean age 64 ± 12 years) were included. Of these, 63 had PCWP ≥15 mmHg and 41 patients had PCWP <15 mmHg. Compared to the PCWP <15 mmHg group, the ≥15 mmHg group had a significantly lower SVI/S' (P < 0.001). Logistic regression showed that SVI/S' was associated with high PCWP measured invasively. The SVI/S' had an area under the curve of 0.761 for diagnosing classifying between PCWP ≥15 mmHg and <15 mmHg. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the lower SVI/S' group showed a poorer prognosis. Conclusions: SVI/S' is a non-invasive index calculated by three-dimensional and tissue Doppler echocardiography. It is a surrogate measure of PCWP and can be used to diagnose and determine prognosis in HFpEF

A Novel Three-Dimensional and Tissue Doppler Echocardiographic Index for Diagnosing and Prognosticating Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains challenging. In this study, a novel echocardiography index based on three-dimensional and tissue Doppler echocardiography for diagnosing and estimating prognosis in HFpEF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with symptoms and/or signs of heart failure and normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≥50%) who underwent right heart catheterization were screened. Patients were divided based on pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) of ≥15 mmHg and PCWP <15 mmHg. A diagnosis of HFpEF was confirmed by PCWP of ≥15 mmHg according to ESC guidelines. A novel index was calculated by the ratio between stroke volume standardized to body surface area (SVI) and tissue Doppler mitral annulus systolic peak velocity S' (SVI/S'). Its diagnostic and prognostic values were determined. RESULTS: A total of 104 patients (mean age 64 ± 12 years) were included. Of these, 63 had PCWP ≥15 mmHg and 41 patients had PCWP <15 mmHg. Compared to the PCWP <15 mmHg group, the ≥15 mmHg group had a significantly lower SVI/S' (P < 0.001). Logistic regression showed that SVI/S' was associated with high PCWP measured invasively. The SVI/S' had an area under the curve of 0.761 for diagnosing classifying between PCWP ≥15 mmHg and <15 mmHg. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the lower SVI/S' group showed a poorer prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: SVI/S' is a non-invasive index calculated by three-dimensional and tissue Doppler echocardiography. It is a surrogate measure of PCWP and can be used to diagnose and determine prognosis in HFpEF

A visualized pulmonary arterial thrombus by using a modified echocardiographic view in an intermediate‐risk acute pulmonary embolism patient: A case report

Abstract Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a life‐threatening disease with nonspecific clinical signs and symptoms. Rapid and accurate diagnosis is crucial for the clinical management of patients with acute pulmonary embolism. A recommended echocardiography view may be of further help in the diagnosis and evaluation of the change in thrombosis and treatment. We reported a case of a 74‐year‐old man with a 12‐day history of decreased exercise capacity and dyspnea. The patient was diagnosed with intermediate‐risk APE as several pulmonary emboli in pulmonary artery were seen in multidetector computed tomographic pulmonary angiography with normal blood pressure and echocardiographic right ventricular overload. And we found a pulmonary artery clot in the right pulmonary artery through transthoracic echocardiography. After 11‐days anticoagulation, the patient underwent a reassessment, showed a decrease in RV diameter and pulmonary artery thrombus. This case highlights the significant role that echocardiography played in a patient who presented pulmonary embolism with a stable hemodynamic situation and normal blood pressure. The modified echocardiographic view could provide correct diagnosis by identifying the clot size and location visually. Knowledge of the echocardiography results of APE would aid the diagnosis

Oxygen vacancy defects engineering on Cu-doped Co3O4 for promoting effective COS hydrolysis

The activation of H2O is a key step of the COS hydrolysis, which may be tuned by oxygen vacancy defects in the catalysts. Herein, we have introduced Cu into Co3O4 to regulate the oxygen vacancy defect content of the catalysts. In situ DRIFTS and XPS spectra reveal that COS and H2O are adsorbed and activated by oxygen vacancy. The 10 at% Cu doped Co3O4 sample (10CuCo3O4) exhibits the optimal activity, 100% of COS conversion at 70 °C. The improved oxygen vacancies of CuCo3O4 accelerate the activation of H2O to form active OH. COS binds with hydroxyl to form the intermediate HSCO2−, and then the activated –OH on the oxygen vacancy reacts with HSCO2− to form HCO3−. Meanwhile, the catalyst exhibits high catalytic stability because copper species (Cu+/Cu2+) redox cycle mitigate the sulfation of Co3O4 (Co2+/Co3+). Our work offers a promising approach for the rational design of cobalt-related catalysts in the highly efficient hydrolysis COS process

Micro-/Nanorobots Propelled by Oscillating Magnetic Fields

Recent strides in micro- and nanomanufacturing technologies have sparked the development of micro-/nanorobots with enhanced power and functionality. Due to the advantages of on-demand motion control, long lifetime, and great biocompatibility, magnetic propelled micro-/nanorobots have exhibited considerable promise in the fields of drug delivery, biosensing, bioimaging, and environmental remediation. The magnetic fields which provide energy for propulsion can be categorized into rotating and oscillating magnetic fields. In this review, recent developments in oscillating magnetic propelled micro-/nanorobot fabrication techniques (such as electrodeposition, self-assembly, electron beam evaporation, and three-dimensional (3D) direct laser writing) are summarized. The motion mechanism of oscillating magnetic propelled micro-/nanorobots are also discussed, including wagging propulsion, surface walker propulsion, and scallop propulsion. With continuous innovation, micro-/nanorobots can become a promising candidate for future applications in the biomedical field. As a step toward designing and building such micro-/nanorobots, several types of common fabrication techniques are briefly introduced. Then, we focus on three propulsion mechanisms of micro-/nanorobots in oscillation magnetic fields: (1) wagging propulsion; (2) surface walker; and (3) scallop propulsion. Finally, a summary table is provided to compare the abilities of different micro-/nanorobots driven by oscillating magnetic fields

Combination of SVI/S′ and diagnostic scores for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

The diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains a challenge. There are three methods proposed as diagnostic tools. H2FPEF score was determined by six weighted clinical characteristics and echocardiographic variables. Heart Failure Association (HFA)-PEFF algorithm consists of various functional and morphological variables as well as natriuretic peptides. SVI/S′ is a novel echocardiographic parameter calculated by stroke volume index and mitral annulus systolic peak velocity. This study aimed to compare the three approaches in patients with suspected HFpEF. Patients referred to right heart catheterization for suspected HFpEF were classified into low-, intermediate- and high-likelihood groups according to H2FPEF or HFA-PEFF scores. A diagnosis of HFpEF was confirmed by pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) of ≥15 mm Hg according to the guidelines. In result, a total of 128 patients were included. Of these, 71 patients with PCWP ≥15 mm Hg and 57 patients with PCWP <15 mm Hg. Moderate correlations were observed between H2FPEF score, HFA-PEFF score, SVI/S′ and PCWP. The area under curve of SVI/S′ was 0.82 for diagnosis of HFpEF, compared with 0.67 for H2FPEF score and 0.75 for HFA-PEFF score by receiver-operating characteristics analysis. Combining SVI/S′ with diagnostic scores showed higher Youden index and accuracy than each score alone. Kaplan–Meier analysis reported that the high-likelihood group showed poorer outcomes regardless the method used for diagnosis. Among the contemporary tools for identifying HFpEF in this study, the combination of SVI/S′ with risk scores showed best diagnostic ability. Each of the strategies can determine rehospitalisation because of heart failure

Alkaline intrusives at the east foot of the Taihang-Da Hinggan Mountains; chronology, Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic characteristics and their implications

Based on the Rb-Sr isochron dating results, this paper suggests that the alkaline intrusive belt at the east foot of the Taihang-Da Hinggan Mountains were formed between 135 and 122 Ma. And the alkaline intrusives in the north and south sections of this belt have entirely different Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic characteristics, i.e., all the rocks in the south section have positive ɛSr(t) and negative ɛNd(t) values and all those in the north have the opposite values. On the ɛSr(t) versus ɛNd(t) correlation diagram, the samples from the south are concentrated along the enriched mantle evolution trend lines and nearby, while those from the north fall along the depleted mantle trend lines and nearby. On the Pb isotope composition diagram, most of the samples from the south section fall on the mantle Pb evolution line and nearby, while those from the north lie between the Pb evolution lines of the mantle and the orogenic belt. The above-stated isotopic characteristics not only indicate that the source rocks of the alkaline intrusives in the south section have a close connection to materials from the enriched mantle reservoir, while those in the north are related to materials from the depleted one, but also reveal that the upper mantle below the North China platform is enriched and that below the Inner Mongolia geosyncline is depleted

Combination of SVI/S′ and diagnostic scores for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

The diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains a challenge. There are three methods proposed as diagnostic tools. H2FPEF score was determined by six weighted clinical characteristics and echocardiographic variables. Heart Failure Association (HFA)-PEFF algorithm consists of various functional and morphological variables as well as natriuretic peptides. SVI/S′ is a novel echocardiographic parameter calculated by stroke volume index and mitral annulus systolic peak velocity. This study aimed to compare the three approaches in patients with suspected HFpEF. Patients referred to right heart catheterization for suspected HFpEF were classified into low-, intermediate- and high-likelihood groups according to H2FPEF or HFA-PEFF scores. A diagnosis of HFpEF was confirmed by pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) of ≥15 mm Hg according to the guidelines. In result, a total of 128 patients were included. Of these, 71 patients with PCWP ≥15 mm Hg and 57 patients with PCWP <15 mm Hg. Moderate correlations were observed between H2FPEF score, HFA-PEFF score, SVI/S′ and PCWP. The area under curve of SVI/S′ was 0.82 for diagnosis of HFpEF, compared with 0.67 for H2FPEF score and 0.75 for HFA-PEFF score by receiver-operating characteristics analysis. Combining SVI/S′ with diagnostic scores showed higher Youden index and accuracy than each score alone. Kaplan–Meier analysis reported that the high-likelihood group showed poorer outcomes regardless the method used for diagnosis. Among the contemporary tools for identifying HFpEF in this study, the combination of SVI/S′ with risk scores showed best diagnostic ability. Each of the strategies can determine rehospitalisation because of heart failure

Constraint Mechanism of Power Device Design Based on Perovskite Quantum Dots Pumped by an Electron Beam

This paper studied the constraint mechanism for power device design based on perovskite quantum dots pumped by an electron beam. Combined with device designing, an experimental system of self-saturation luminescence and aging failure was designed for CsPbBr3 films. On this basis, we further completed the self-saturation luminescence and aging failure experiment and constructed a model of self-saturation luminescence and aging failure for CsPbBr3 device designing. Three constraints were proposed after analyzing and discussing the experimental data. Firstly, too high of a pumping current density makes it difficult to effectively promote the enhancement of luminescence efficiency. Secondly, radiation decomposition and aging failure of CsPbBr3 films are mainly related to the polarized degree of CsPbBr3 nanocrystals. Thirdly, by increasing the pumping electric field, the pumping energy can be effectively and widely delivered to the three-dimensional quantum dots film layer space, and there is a nonlinear relationship between the attenuation of the pumping energy density and the increment of the pumping electric field, which will effectively avoid the local high-energy density of instantaneous optical pumping