Morphologic changes in the coronary arteries of patients with ischemic heart disease were evaluated by angiography. Although a powerful diagnostic tool, angiography can show only the shadow of the luminal changes and therefore is an insufficient tool for diagnosis of pathological changes. Recent advances in fi beroptic technology now enable observation of the luminal changes even in small diame...

background: conventional doppler measurements, including mitral inflow and pulmonary venous flow, are used to estimate left ventricular end diastolic pressure (lvedp). however, these parameters have limitations in predicting lvedp among patients with mitral regurgitation. this study sought to establish whether the correlation between measurements derived from tissue doppler echocardiography and...

BACKGROUND Main pulmonary artery diameter (mPA) and ratio of mPA to ascending aorta diameter (ratio PA) derived from chest CT are commonly reported in clinical practice. We determined the age- and sex-specific distribution and normal reference values for mPA and ratio PA by CT in an asymptomatic community-based population. METHODS AND RESULTS In 3171 men and women (mean age, 51±10 years; 51% ...

OBJECTIVES To systematically identify and compare the concepts contained in outcome measures of clinical trials on chronic ischaemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and obstructive pulmonary disease, including asthma using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a reference. METHODS Randomized controlled trials between 1993 and 2003 were loca...

A case is described in which, at semilunar valve level, the aorta and pulmonary artery arose from inappropriate ventricles. Despite this, the outflow tracts to both vessels originated from the left ventricle. Embryologically, it is speculated that this anomaly is the result of normal rotation of the proximal conus, without concomitant truncal inversion, and excessive leftward shift of the proxi...

Background: Vitamin D (Vit D) is linked to various conditions including musculoskeletal, metabolic and   cardiopulmonary diseases. However, it is not clear whether correction of vit D deficiency exerts any beneficial effect in patients with pulmonary hypertension. Methods: This study was a prospective uncontrolled longitudinal study. Patients with pulmonary hypertension and vit D d...

OBJECTIVE To assess right and left ventricular systolic function in normal human fetuses by cross sectional Doppler echocardiography to calculate the force developed by myocardial shortening. DESIGN Cross sectional echocardiographic images of the aorta and pulmonary arteries were obtained prospectively in order to measure great vessel diameters and calculate their cross sectional areas. Doppl...

background: depression and smoking decrease health status in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd), but the combined effect of the two factors is unknown. this study aimed to assess the interactive effects of depression and smoking on the severity of patients with copd. methods: a prospective cohort study including 2,268 patients with copd was conducted in seven rural communities from ma...

abstract   background: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and is an important health economic problem. since 1960, there has been an increase in mortality associated with copd, especially in men. acute exacerbations form a major component of the socioeconomic burden of copd which mainly results in long-term hospitalization. despite the high...

introduction: pulmonary hyperinflation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd) can increase the breathing rate and reduce diaphragmatic movements by pushing the diaphragms downward and limiting their movements; this, in fact, can affect the breathing process. the purpose of this study was to compare diaphragmatic movements in copd patients and healthy ones and to evaluate ...