Aims
To examine relationships between cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and parameters of left ventricular (LV) structure and function in patients with acute destabilized heart failure (HF) with preserved LV ...ejection fraction.
Methods and results
In 44 patients with acute heart failure (HF) with preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, parameters of LV structure and function were assessed via comprehensive two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography. There was no correlation between cTnT and LV wall thickness, left atrial volume index, or transmitral E wave velocity or deceleration time. There were associations between cTnT and LV end-diastolic dimension (r = −0.34, P = 0.02) and LV mass index (r = 0.32; P = .04). A lower tissue Doppler Ea wave peak velocity was associated with higher cTnT concentrations (r = −0.90, P < 0.001). In multivariate analyses, only LV end-diastolic dimension (t = 2.2; P = 0.04), LV mass index (t = 2.3; P = .03), and tissue Doppler Ea wave peak velocity (t = −4.7; P < .001) emerged as significant predictors of cTnT.
Conclusion
In patients with HF with preserved LV ejection fraction, cTnT is strongly associated with the extent of LV relaxation abnormalities and LV mass.
The authors present a controlled evaluation of a rural adaptation of the assertive community treatment (ACT) model for clients with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI). Four community mental ...health settings adopted an ACT model, while a fifth site blended ACT principles with those of the Rhinelander model, another approach to case management for persons with SPMI. A broad array of client and system outcomes were evaluated at 6, 12, and 24 months into the intervention. Twelve-month findings alerted us to potential problems in implementing the treatment model in study year 1; the implementation was qualitatively evaluated and weaknesses were addressed at the beginning of the second treatment year. Small, positive findings at 24 months suggested that the mid-study course correction may have had an impact. We present these findings along with descriptive data on the challenges of implementing complex services models. We give particular attention to describing implementation barriers to mental health services provision that are uniquely rural.
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