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Biomedical subjects

W J Cherng

Publications and source records attributed to W J Cherng.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of telmisartan 40 mg vs. enalapril 10 mg in the treatment of mild-to-moderate hypertension: a multicentre, double-blind study in Taiwanese patients.

The purpose of this randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of telmisartan 40 mg once daily vs. enalapril 10 mg once daily in 147 Taiwanese patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension (diastolic blood pressure [DBP] 90-109 mmHg). After 6 weeks' treatment, telmisartan produced a significantly greater reduction from baseline in the primary endpoint of trough seated DBP compared with enalapril 10 mg (11.7 vs. 8.7 mmHg, respectively; p = 0.02). Numerically greater reductions compared with baseline in seated systolic blood pressure (SBP), standing DBP, and standing SBP were achieved with telmisartan compared with enalapril. Also, numerically greater proportions of patients achieved blood pressure control (DBP/systolic blood pressure [SBP] <90/140 mmHg) and responded to treatment (reduction from baseline in trough seated DBP > or = 10 mmHg and/or post-treatment DBP <90 mmHg; reduction from baseline in trough seated SBP > or = 10 mmHg and/or post-treatment SBP <140 mmHg) with telmisartan 40 mg compared with enalapril 10 mg. Although both treatments were well tolerated, the incidence of cough was markedly lower with telmisartan 40 mg (8.5%) than with enalapril 10 mg (18.4%) in this population of Taiwanese hypertensive patients.

Adult↗

Guidewire-induced dissection of the right coronary artery and adjacent aortic wall during percutaneous coronary angioplasty.

We describe two patients in whom right coronary artery dissection and retrograde dissection of the sinus of Valsalva occurred during guidewire advancement for percutaneous coronary angioplasty Both patients were treated successfully by coronary stenting. These cases illustrate that contrast medium injection can detect early complications during guidewire advancement for coronary intervention.

Aortic Dissection↗

Effects of verapamil in normal elderly individuals with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

Treatment with oral verapamil for 3 to 4 days has been found to enhance left ventricular (LV) diastolic filling in elderly subjects as assessed by radionuclide angiography. However, there are no Doppler echocardiographic studies to assess the long-term effect of verapamil in normal elderly subjects. Thirteen healthy elderly subjects (mean age, 64 +/- 7 years; 8 men and 5 women) with LV diastolic dysfunction underwent this placebo-controlled cross-over trial. The effect of verapamil on LV diastolic function was assessed by treadmill exercise test and Doppler echocardiography at baseline, and after each 3-month treatment period (placebo or verapamil 120 mg once daily), separated by a 1-week washout period before cross-over. Blood pressure, heart rate, LV ejection fraction, LV mass, and cardiac output were unaltered by placebo or verapamil. The exercise time was similar at baseline (11.4 +/- 2.4 min) and after placebo treatment (11.4 +/- 2.3 min) but significantly increased (P < 0.05) after verapamil treatment (12.3 +/- 2.0 min). The ratio of mitral A wave duration/pulmonary venous atrial systolic reversal duration increased after verapamil treatment (1.12 +/- 0.08) compared to placebo (0.93 +/- 0.06, P < 0.05) and baseline (0.89 +/- 0.09), which had similar durations. The isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) from 85 +/- 13 msec at baseline and 87 +/- 13 msec with placebo to 73 +/- 9 msec with verapamil. The results of this study suggest that in normal elderly patients with Doppler evidence of diastolic dysfunction, 3 months treatment with verapamil can increase exercise tolerance and improve LV diastolic function.

Aged↗

Relationship between dobutamine echocardiography and the elevation of cardiac troponin I in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

An elevated cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and a positive dobutamine echocardiography are powerful predictors for future cardiac events in patients with coronary artery disease. Investigating their correlation also should be helpful in understanding their clinical usefulness in evaluating patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Dobutamine echocardiography and a blood sampling for cTnI were performed on 117 patients with ACS 70 +/- 2 hours after arriving at the hospital. CTnI was considered elevated when its value was greater than 2.0 ng/ml. Dobutamine echocardiography was positive in 86 (73.5%) patients, and cTnI was elevated in 37 (31.6%). The occurrence of positive dobutamine echocardiography in patients with elevated cTnI was significantly higher than in those with normal cTnI (86.5% vs. 67.5%, P = 0.042). More patients in the elevated cTnI group developed myocardial ischemia before or at the stage of dobutamine 20 microg/kg/min (43.2% vs. 15%, P = 0.002). When compared with patients with normal cTnI, patients with elevated cTnI had a lower ischemic threshold during dobutamine echocardiography, and more frequently had baseline echocardiographic wall-motion abnormalities, a history of myocardial infarction, and a positive dobutamine echocardiography. Using multivariate analysis, we found that only a lower dobutamine echocardiography ischemic threshold (P = 0.0008) and baseline wall-motion abnormalities (P = 0.0004) were associated independently with the elevation of cTnI. Our results suggest that in patients with ACS, dobutamine echocardiography can offer information regarding wall-motion abnormalities and ischemic threshold, which are suggested to have a clinical value similar to elevated cTnI.

Acute Disease↗

Pulsation, systolic thrill and murmur in femoral veins secondary to severe tricuspid regurgitation.

We report on a case of pulsatile femoral veins with a systolic thrill and murmur in a 26-year-old patient who exhibited severe tricuspid regurgitation. The pulsatile nature of the veins may result from the 'ventricularization' of venous pressure with each pressure pulse. The observed systolic thrill and murmur may be due to the systolic reversal of substantial regurgitant flow in the venous system of the lower limbs. This case also demonstrates that severe tricuspid regurgitation can have far-reaching manifestations.

Adult↗

Coronary artery spasm-induced paroxysmal atrial fibrillation--a case report.

Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is described in a patient that was consistent with the clinical history developed after induction of coronary artery spasm. The mechanism appeared to be sinus node artery spasm inducing sinus node ischemia. Coronary artery spasm can be a cause of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Atrial Fibrillation↗

Coronary vasospasm inducing dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.

An 80-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department of our institution due to acute, anterior-wall myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock. Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed systolic anterior motion of the mitral leaflets with severe left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Although coronary angiography showed normal coronary arteries, an ergonovine provocation test induced diffuse coronary constriction of the left coronary artery, with chest pain, and ST-T changes seen on the electrocardiogram. These clinical signs caused us to suspect coronary spasm. The present case serves as a reminder that coronary vasospasm may be a factor in the development of dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Early detection and intensive efforts to relieve vasospasm, including emergency coronary angiography and intracoronary injection of nitroglycerin, are essential.

Aged↗

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation during coronary vasospasm induced by tilt table testing.

A 65-year-old man presented to our institution with recurrent episodes of early morning chest discomfort and near syncope. An ergonovine provocation test documented a diagnosis of coronary vasospastic angina. Using our investigation of the syncope, a head-up tilt table test provoked a severe episode of coronary vasospasm that resulted in a life-threatening cardiac event. The present case reminds us that an elevation of ST segments on the electrocardiogram during tilt testing should be promptly managed as an attack of coronary vasospasm.

Aged↗

Large right atrial thrombus with pulmonary embolism.

We present the cases of two patients, aged 67 and 77 years, who were admitted for the evaluation of rapidly progressive dyspnea and syncope, respectively. Both patients developed large right atrial thrombi with pulmonary embolism. The first patient received recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and survived with an uneventful result, whereas the second patient received operative thrombectomy followed by intravenous heparin and died 15 days later of pulmonary infarction with pulseless electrical activity. Data from these limited experiences suggest that thrombolytic therapy might be considered in patients with right heart thrombi with pulmonary embolism.

Aged↗

Pedal (99m)Tc-sulfur colloid lymphoscintigraphy in primary isolated chylopericardium.

Primary isolated chylopericardium is a rare disorder in which chylous fluid accumulates in the pericardial space. In this case report of a 61-year-old man with chylopericardium, pedal (99m)Tc-sulfur colloid (SC) lymphoscintigraphy was performed after emergent pericardiocentesis, and when there was a recurrent massive pericardial effusion. The results showed that (99m)Tc-SC lymphoscintigraphy can clearly reveal the lymphodynamics in patients with primary isolated chylopericardium. This noninvasive investigation is valuable and can be easily performed either before or after pericardiocentesis.

Humans↗

Intravenous atropine relieves coronary arterial spasm and hemodynamic decompensation during recovery after exercise.

A 66-year-old man developed right coronary arterial spasm and hemodynamic decompensation during the early recovery phase of a treadmill exercise test. The unstable condition was corrected immediately after intravenous administration of atropine. A subsequent coronary angiographic study revealed insignificant right coronary artery stenosis. The pathophysiology of this response may be related to rapid alterations in autonomic balance during recovery after exercise. To our knowledge, this is the 1st reported case in which atropine effected immediate reversal of coronary arterial spasm and hemodynamic decompensation that were induced by exercise, rather than by pharmacologic agents. Atropine might be an effective treatment in patients who experience exercise-induced coronary arterial spasm and hemodynamic decompensation, but further investigation is warranted.

Aged↗

Dobutamine-induced hypotension is an independent predictor for mortality in patients with left ventricular dysfunction following myocardial infarction.

Dobutamine echocardiography was performed on 297 patients after acute myocardial infarction to assess the prognostic value of dobutamine-induced hypotension in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. Patients were divided into two groups according to ejection fraction (group I, ejection fraction <0.45, n = 123; group II, ejection fraction > or =0.45, n = 174) and were followed for 20+/-8 months. Hypotension was defined as a decrease in systolic blood pressure > or =20 mm Hg, compared with baseline values. The incidence of hypotension was similar in groups I and II (23.6% vs. 18.4%, P = 0.28), and the hypotension was not related to positive dobutamine echocardiography. Univariate analysis showed that the development of hypotension was associated with a higher incidence of cardiac death in group I but not in group II. Multivariate analysis showed that dobutamine-induced hypotension was an independent predictor only for cardiac death in group I and was not related to any other cardiac events in either group. In conclusion, the development of hypotension during dobutamine stress can identify a subgroup with poor ventricular functional reserve and at high risk for cardiac death among patients complicated with left ventricular dysfunction.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

Can dobutamine stress echocardiography predict cardiac events in nonrevascularized diabetic patients following acute myocardial infarction?

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the prognostic value of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) performed early after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is as high in diabetic patients as in nondiabetic patients. DESIGN: Inception cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary cardiac referral center. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Three hundred thirty-eight patients (116 diabetic and 222 nondiabetic) who underwent DSE after AMI were followed up for cardiac events. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Outcome events were as follows: "hard" events consisted of cardiac death and nonfatal reinfarction, while "all events" included hard events and unstable angina. The mean follow-up duration was 21 +/- 9 months. DSE results were positive in 69 diabetic patients (59.5%) and 129 nondiabetic patients (58.1%; p = 0.817). During the follow-up period, there were 25 cardiac deaths, 16 cases of nonfatal reinfarction, and 55 cases of unstable angina. The Kaplan-Meier life table showed that a positive DSE result was associated with a lower event-free survival rate in nondiabetic but not in diabetic patients in terms of hard and all events. By multivariate analysis, a positive DSE result was the strongest independent predictor of future cardiac events in nondiabetic patients. However, in diabetics, a shorter dobutamine time, rather than a positive DSE result, independently predicted cardiac events. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary data suggest that different DSE variables should be considered when assessing the likelihood of future events in diabetic and nondiabetic patients after AMI. The observation of shorter dobutamine time, instead of DSE positivity, has a higher prognostic value in diabetics. In diabetic patients, the only significant role of DSE positivity is for predicting future unstable angina; however, its predictive value is not as good as in nondiabetic patients.

Aged↗