BACKGROUND: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) is associated with poor prognosis, but RV assessment by conventional echocardiography remains difficult. We sought to validate RV global longitudinal strain (RVGLS) and global longitudinal strain rate (RVGLSR) against cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and outcome in ICM. METHODS: In 57 patients (43 men, 64 +/- 12 years) with ICM who underwent conventional and strain echocardiography and CMR, RVGLS and RVGLSR were measured off-line. RV dysfunction was determined by CMR [RV ejection fraction (RVEF) < 50%]. Patients were followed over 15 +/- 9 months for a composite of death and hospitalization for worsening heart failure. RESULTS: RVGLS showed significant correlations with CMR RVEF (r = -0.797, p < 0.01), RV fractional area change (RVFAC, r = -0.530, p < 0.01), and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE, r = -0.547, p < 0.01). RVGLSR showed significant correlations between CMR RVEF (r = -0.668, p < 0.01), RVFAC (r = -0.394, p < 0.01), and TAPSE (r = -0.435, p < 0.01). RVGLS and RVGLSR showed significant correlations with pulmonary vascular resistance (r = 0.527 and r = 0.500, p < 0.01, respectively). The best cutoff value of RVGLS for detection of RV dysfunction was -15.4% [areas under the curve (AUC) = 0.955, p < 0.01] with a sensitivity of 81% and specificity 95%. The best cutoff value for RVGLSR was -0.94 s-1 (AUC = 0.871, p < 0.01), sensitivity 72%, specificity 86%. During follow-up, there were 12 adverse events. In Cox-proportional hazard regression analysis, impaired RVGLS [hazard ratio (HR) = 5.46, p = 0.030] and impaired RVGLSR (HR = 3.95, p = 0.044) were associated with adverse clinical outcome. CONCLUSION: Compared with conventional echocardiographic parameters, RVGLS and RVGLSR correlate better with CMR RVEF and outcome.
Cardiomyopathies ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Failure ; Heart Ventricles ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Vascular Resistance ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right*

The authors have decided to remove one of the authors, Serpil C. Erzurum, MD, who was cited as the 5th author on the original manuscript.

In this paper, we demonstrate the ability of Arabidopsis thaliana to detect different mixtures of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by the common indoor fungus, Aspergillus versicolor, and demonstrate the potential usage of the plant as a bioindicator to monitor fungal VOCs in indoor air. We evaluated the volatile production of Aspergillus versicolor strains SRRC 108 (NRRL 3449) and SRRC 2559 (ATCC 32662) grown on nutrient rich fungal medium, and grown under conditions to mimic the substrate encountered in the built environment where fungi would typically grow indoors (moist wallboard and ceiling tiles). Using headspace solid phase microextraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we analyzed VOC profiles of the two strains. The most abundant compound produced by both strains on all three media was 1-octen-3-ol. Strain SRRC 2559 made several terpenes not detected from strain SRRC 108. Using a split-plate bioassay, we grew Arabidopsis thaliana in a shared atmosphere with VOCs from the two strains of Aspergillus versicolor grown on yeast extract sucrose medium. The VOCs emitted by SRRC 2559 had an adverse impact on seed germination and plant growth. Chemical standards of individual VOCs from the Aspergillus versicolor mixture (2-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 1-octen-3-ol, limonene, and β-farnesene), and β-caryophyllene were tested one by one in seed germination and vegetative plant growth assays. The most inhibitory compound to both seed germination and plant growth was 1-octen-3-ol. Our data suggest that Arabidopsis is a useful model for monitoring indoor air quality as it is sensitive to naturally emitted fungal volatile mixtures as well as to chemical standards of individual compounds, and it exhibits relatively quick concentration- and duration-dependent responses.
Air Pollution, Indoor ; Arabidopsis* ; Aspergillus ; Atmosphere ; Biological Assay ; Fungi ; Germination ; Plants ; Spectrum Analysis ; Sucrose ; Terpenes ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; Yeasts

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Right ventricular longitudinal strain (RVLS) is a new parameter of RV function. We evaluated the relationship of RVLS by speckle-tracking echocardiography with functional and invasive parameters in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty four patients with World Health Organization group 1 PAH (29 females, mean age 45+/-13 years old). RVLS were analyzed with velocity vector imaging. RESULTS: Patients with advanced symptoms {New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III/IV} had impaired RVLS in global RV (RVLS(global), -17+/-5 vs. -12+/-3%, p<0.01) and RV free wall (RVLS(FW), -19+/-5 vs. -14+/-4%, p<0.01 to NYHA class I/II). Baseline RVLS(global) and RVLS(FW) showed significant correlation with 6-minute walking distance (r=-0.54 and r=-0.57, p<0.01 respectively) and logarithmic transformation of brain natriuretic peptide concentration (r=0.65 and r=0.65, p<0.01, respectively). These revealed significant correlations with cardiac index (r=-0.50 and r=-0.47, p<0.01, respectively) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR, r=0.45 and r=0.45, p=0.01, respectively). During a median follow-up of 33 months, 25 patients (74%) had follow-up examinations. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP, 54+/-13 to 46+/-16 mmHg, p=0.03) and PVR (11+/-5 to 6+/-2 wood units, p<0.01) were significantly decreased with pulmonary vasodilator treatment. RVLS(global) (-12+/-5 to -16+/-5%, p<0.01) and RVLS(FW) (-14+/-5 to -18+/-5%, p<0.01) were significantly improved. The decrease of mPAP was significantly correlated with improvement of RVLS(global) (r=0.45, p<0.01) and RVLS(FW) (r=0.43, p<0.01). The PVR change demonstrated significant correlation with improvement of RVLS(global) (r=0.40, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: RVLS correlates with functional and invasive hemodynamic parameters in PAH patients. Decrease of mPAP and PVR as a result of treatment was associated with improvement of RVLS.
Arterial Pressure ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Heart Ventricles ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Vascular Resistance ; Ventricular Function, Right ; Walking ; Wood ; World Health Organization