Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Eur J Heart Fail 2019 Jan 16. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia.

Background: Elevated left atrial (LA) pressure, particularly during exercise, is associated with symptomatic status and survival in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We aimed to characterize the contribution of abnormal LA mechanical properties to exercise haemodynamics in HFpEF.

Methods And Results: Simultaneous echocardiography and right heart catheterization were performed in 71 subjects with left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 50% referred for assessment of exertional dyspnoea. Read More

Case Rep Cardiol 2018 13;2018:5498052. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Cardiology, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11219, USA.

A 73-year-old female with multiple comorbidities including coronary artery disease was admitted for an elective PCI of a lesion detected in the RCA. On the day of the planned PCI, shortly after right femoral artery cannulation, the patient developed a sudden complete heart block requiring the administration atropine and insertion of a temporary pacemaker. Concomitantly, the patient developed acute pulmonary edema, hypotension, and hypoxia requiring intubation for mechanical ventilation. Read More

Am J Med 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center, 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, Arizona, 85724. Electronic address:

Background: Identification of ST-elevation myocardial infarction is critical as early reperfusion can save myocardium and increase survival. ST-elevation (STE) in aVR, co-existent with multi-lead ST-depression, was endorsed as a sign of acute occlusion of the left main or proximal left anterior descending coronary artery in the 2013 STEMI Guidelines. We investigated the incidence of an acutely occluded coronary in patients presenting with STE-aVR with multi-lead ST-depression. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Jan 9. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Heart Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.

Background: The long-term impact of altered hemodynamics after Stage II in children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and hypoplastic left heart complex (HLHC) on cerebral growth and neurodevelopmental outcome is unknown. We aimed to investigate whether elevated central venous and atrial filling pressures before Fontan procedure may be associated with smaller brain volumes and poorer neurodevelopmental outcome after initial Hybrid procedure.

Methods: In a two-center cohort study semi-automated segmentation of cerebral MRI scans was conducted in 25 children with HLHS/HLHC (25 Hybrid) before Fontan procedure (27. Read More

Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Dec;12(1):e008122

Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, TX (S.F.N., M.A.C.-p., K.C.E.t., J.X.).

Background: Assessment of left ventricular (LV) filling pressure is among the important components of a comprehensive echocardiographic report. Previous studies noted wide limits of agreement using 2009 American Society of Echocardiography/European Association of Echocardiography guidelines, but reproducibility of 2016 guidelines update in estimating LV filling pressure is unknown.

Methods: Echocardiographic and hemodynamic data were obtained from 50 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for clinical indications. Read More

Heart Surg Forum 2018 Nov 14;21(6):E476-E483. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Interventional Echocardiography, Structural Heart Program, Banner - University Medical Center Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, USA.

During interventional and structural cardiology procedures, such as mitral valve (MitraClip, BMV), aortic valve (TAVR, BAV), tricuspid valve (MitraClip), left atrial appendage (Watchman, Lariat), atrial septum (ASD/PFO closure), and coronary artery intervention (high-risk PCI), among others, patients are at a high risk of hemodynamic instability and require continuous monitoring. This is conventionally achieved through arterial catheterization and transpulmonary thermodilution. However, such invasive techniques are time-consuming and have been associated with steep learning curves, vascular complications, and increased risk of infection. Read More

Int J Cardiol Heart Vasc 2019 Mar 27;22:61-66. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Department of Cardiology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China.

Objective: To the authors' knowledge, limited data are available regarding the association between Electrocardiogram (ECG) signs of right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). We aimed to assess the accuracy of the recommended ECG criteria of RVH for predicting PH in patients with DCM.

Methods: According to the definition of PH (mPAP ≥ 25 mm Hg), 35 patients with DCM were divided into 2 groups: DCM with PH (n = 22) and DCM without PH (n = 13). Read More

Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 2018 Dec 31. Epub 2018 Dec 31.

Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Clinical Physiology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

Purpose: Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) due to systemic sclerosis (SSc) have high mortality. Left ventricular (LV) peak global longitudinal strain (GLS) is decreased in SSc. It is unknown whether low GLS is due to SSc or PAH. Read More

Indian Heart J 2018 Dec 24;70 Suppl 3:S394-S398. Epub 2018 Jun 24.

Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address:

Background: Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a cyanotic disease requiring early intervention. We assessed the effect of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) stenting versus modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (mBTS) on outcomes of surgical repair of TOF.

Methods: Fifteen palliated TOF infants underwent complete repair surgery. Read More

Zhonghua Wei Zhong Bing Ji Jiu Yi Xue 2018 Dec;30(12):1150-1153

Centre of PICU, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu, China. Corresponding author: Miao Hongjun, Email:

Objective: To explore the clinical application value of the continuous blood purification (CBP) technology in pediatric intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted. All CBP patients admitted to pediatric ICU of Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from 2015 to 2017 were enrolled. Read More

J Cardiol 2018 Dec 22. Epub 2018 Dec 22.

Cardiovascular Center, Kitano Hospital, Osaka, Japan.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) can lead to a decrease in stroke volume (SV) despite a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, no previous studies have evaluated the prognostic importance of the decreased SV in patients with AF and concomitant heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Methods: We retrospectively studied the cases of 1520 consecutive patients who had undergone right heart catheterization. Read More

Zhonghua Xin Xue Guan Bing Za Zhi 2018 Dec;46(12):965-971

Department of Cardiology, Renji Hospital (South), Shanghai Jiaotong University School ofMedicine, Shanghai 201112, China.

To investigate the value of four-dimensional echocardiography combined with speckle tracking technique on the assessment of right heart function and prognosis in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In this prospective study, 51 patients with PAH diagnosed by right heart catheterization in east hospital and south hospital of Renji hospital affiliated to school of medicine of Shanghai Jiaotong University from September 2015 to July 2017 were enrolled as PAH group from July to November 2017. Meanwhile, 26 healthy volunteers with age and sex matched with pulmonary hypertension patients were recruited as control group. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2018 Nov;7(21):e009974

1 Department of Cardiology Aarhus University Hospital Skejby, Aarhus N Denmark.

Background This study evaluated myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO) and myocardial external efficiency (MEE) in patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA). Furthermore, we compared MEE and MVO in subjects with light chain amyloidosis versus transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis. Methods and Results The study population comprised 40 subjects: 25 patients with confirmed CA and 15 control subjects. Read More

Circ Cardiovasc Interv 2018 Nov;11(11):e007145

Department of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Policlinico San Donato, Milan, Italy (V.M., S.M.E.).

Background Pediatric patients with atrioventricular valve disease have limited options for prosthetic valve replacement in sizes <15 mm. Based on successful experience with the stented bovine jugular vein graft (Melody valve) in the right ventricular outflow tract, the prosthesis has been modified for surgical valve replacement in pediatric patients with atrioventricular dysfunction with the intention of subsequent valve expansion in the catheterization laboratory as the child grows. Methods and Results A multicenter, retrospective cohort study was performed among patients who underwent atrioventricular valve replacement with Melody valve at 17 participating sites from North America and Europe, including 68 patients with either mitral (n=59) or tricuspid (n=9) replacement at a median age of 8 months (range, 3 days to 13 years). Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(50):e13747

Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine.

Rationale: Coronary artery fistulae (CAF) are uncommon heart lesions, but they are the most frequent significant hemodynamic congenital coronary anomaly. Transcatheter closure is an alternative treatment and a variety of techniques and devices were reported to use for the closure of congenital coronary fistulae.

Patient Concerns: We reported a 5-year-10-month-old boy who was diagnosed as CAF at birth. Read More

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2019 Jan 27;157(1):318-326.e1. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

Herma Heart Center, Division of Congenital Heart Surgery, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wis.

Objectives: Because data for neonates are limited, optimal management of critical aortic stenosis remains controversial (balloon valvotomy [BV] or open valvoplasty [OV]). In a center with balanced experience in both methods, we hypothesized that OV can provide a better individualized approach than blunt BV and better serve long-term outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective review of data and follow-up (survival, freedom from operation/replacement) of all neonates, suitable for biventricular repair, undergoing aortic valve procedure (1989-2015), was performed. Read More

Cardiorenal Med 2018 Dec 13;9(2):83-91. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Medicine, Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Background: Renal dysfunction is an important predictor of poor outcomes in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is implicated as one of the explanations for worsening renal function in cardiorenal syndrome. Novel right heart catheterization (RHC) parameters such as pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPi) and right atrial to pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ratio (RA:PCWP) have been found as predictors of RV dysfunction. Read More

J Geriatr Cardiol 2018 Nov;15(11):687-694

Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.

Objective: To study the coronary microvascular function in older patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) using an invasive pressure-temperature sensor guidewire.

Methods: Patients undergoing echocardiography and cardiac catheterization examinations for exertional dyspnea and a positive stress test were retrospectively enrolled from January 2014 to November 2017, and were allocated into the control group or HFpEF group. The HFpEF group was secondary divided into two groups according to the age of 65. Read More

Am J Med Case Rep 2018 ;6(9):180-183

Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center/Health + Hospitals Kings County Brooklyn, NY 11203 USA.

Background: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with a wide range of clinical features and variable clinical course. SLE tends to affect women during childbearing years and is characterized by multi-organ involvement. Cardiac complications in SLE, which have been described to occur in about 50% of the cases, contributes to significant morbidity and mortality in this population. Read More

Cardiol Young 2018 Dec 11:1-2. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Fetal and Pediatric Cardiology,University Hospitals Leuven,Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven,Belgium.

A 5-year-old girl presented with chronic fatigue and extreme exercise intolerance. After countless doctor visits, investigations, and hospital admissions, striking desaturation during exercise test pointed to a cardiovascular problem. Desaturation as a result of right-to-left shunting through a patent foramen ovale during upright exercise was hypothesised. Read More

Int Heart J 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Cardiovascular Center, Onze Lieve Vrouw Ziekenhuis.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between corin expression and circulating brain natriuretic peptide in patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction.Circulating levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) can be an indicator of LV dysfunction. The 32-amino-acid BNP is cleaved by corin, a cardiac serine protease, from its108-amino-acid pro-brain natriuretic peptide (proBNP) precursor. Read More

Turk Kardiyol Dern Ars 2018 12;46(8):667-674

Gazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Kardiyoloji Anabilim Dalı, Ankara.

Objective: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is multidisciplinary disorder that should be diagnosed and treated by specialized centers. Progress in the field of PH diagnosis has led to new classifications of the disease. The aim of this study was to determine the etiological properties of PH diagnosed at one center. Read More

Crit Care 2018 11 29;22(1):325. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA.

Background: Maximal left ventricular (LV) pressure rise (LV dP/dt), a classical marker of LV systolic function, requires LV catheterization, thus surrogate arterial pressure waveform measures have been proposed. We compared LV and arterial (femoral and radial) dP/dt to the slope of the LV end-systolic pressure-volume relationship (Ees), a load-independent measure of LV contractility, to determine the interactions between dP/dt and Ees as loading and LV contractility varied.

Methods: We measured LV pressure-volume data using a conductance catheter and femoral and radial arterial pressures using a fluid-filled catheter in 10 anesthetized pigs. Read More

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2018 Nov;98(43):3528-3531

Department of Radiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China.

To compare the value of cardiac MRI (CMRI), ultrasonic cardiogram (UCG), multidetector CT (MDCT) in assessing right ventricular function (RV) in patients with PAH. A total of 31 consecutive patients with PAH (17 males and 14 females, 55±12 years) in Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital from August 2012 to February 2014 were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent CMRI to get parameters including right ventricular end-systolic volume (ESV), end-diastolic dimension (EDV), stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF), ventricular mass index (VMI). Read More

Heart Vessels 2018 Nov 24. Epub 2018 Nov 24.

Department of Cardiology, Tsukazaki Hospital, Himeji, Japan.

When cardiologists diagnose patients with coronary spastic angina, Japanese Circulation Society (JCS) guidelines recommend the intracoronary injection of acetylcholine (ACh) and ergonovine (ER) as class I. However, the pharmacological difference between ACh and ER is controversial in the clinic. We performed both ACh and ER tests in the same 528 patients during 26 years. Read More

Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2018 Nov 25. Epub 2018 Nov 25.

Cardiology Service, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Objectives: This study examines the intrapatient variability in peak instantaneous left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradients and aortic pulse pressures during rest, exercise, and after ventricular ectopy.

Background: Although the variability in LVOT gradients in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is well known, the predictors of such variation are not. We hypothesized that quantitative invasive analysis of gradient variation could identify useful predictors of maximal gradients. Read More

Cureus 2018 Sep 17;10(9):e3313. Epub 2018 Sep 17.

Internal Medicine, Overlook Medical Center, Summit, USA.

Currently, the cardiovascular risk associated with the use of anabolic steroids is not well documented. Recent studies have shown that its use may potentiate the development of cardiac dysfunction in the short term. This case report describes an encounter that supports a causal link between anabolic-androgenic steroid use (AAS) and cardiomyopathy later in life. Read More

Case Rep Cardiol 2018 24;2018:9382904. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Department of Internal Medicine, Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Introduction: Electrocardiographic changes imitating myocardial ischemia have been occasionally reported in patients with intra-abdominal pathology including acute pancreatitis.

Case Report: A 60-year-old man with no past medical history presented to the emergency department (ED) after a syncopal episode. In ED, his vitals were stable. Read More

Arch Argent Pediatr 2018 Dec;116(6):e789-e792

Departamento de Pediatría, Servicio de Cardiología Pediátrica, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires.

The anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ARCAPA) is a rare entity that has an incidence of 0.002 % and can potentially cause sudden death. Unlike to the anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA), usually presented with myocardial ischemia and heart failure; the diagnosis of ARCAPA is often incidental during evaluation of a heart murmur. Read More

Cardiol Clin 2019 Feb 29;37(1):73-82. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Program, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, 100 Woods Road, Macy Pavilion Room 106, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy affects 0.5% of the population. Advanced testing is considered, including cardiac catheterization, endomyocardial biopsy, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Read More

Basic Res Cardiol 2018 Nov 16;114(1). Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Louisville, 580 S. Preston Street, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA.

Preclinical investigations support the concept that donor cells more oriented towards a cardiovascular phenotype favor repair. In light of this philosophy, we previously identified HDAC1 as a mediator of cardiac mesenchymal cell (CMC) cardiomyogenic lineage commitment and paracrine signaling potency in vitro-suggesting HDAC1 as a potential therapeutically exploitable target to enhance CMC cardiac reparative capacity. In the current study, we examined the effects of pharmacologic HDAC1 inhibition, using the benzamide class 1 isoform-selective HDAC inhibitor entinostat (MS-275), on CMC cardiomyogenic lineage commitment and CMC-mediated myocardial repair in vivo. Read More

Cureus 2018 Sep 7;10(9):e3267. Epub 2018 Sep 7.

Medicine/Trauma and Critical Care, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (AHCM) is a rare form of non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It is rarely reported in African American patients, and more commonly reported in Japanese patients. AHCM involves hypertrophy of the apex of the left ventricle. Read More

Pulm Circ 2019 Jan-Mar;9(1):2045894018816089. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

1 Cardiology, University "L. Vanvitelli" - Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy.

A fluid challenge with a rapid infusion of saline helps to discriminate between pre- and post-capillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) and allows unmasking hidden post-capillary PH. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients may present with biventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamic changes of the pulmonary circulation in SSc patients without PH after a fluid challenge. Read More

Am J Emerg Med 2018 Oct 23. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Emergency Medicine Residency, 36065 Santa Fe Ave, Fort Hood, TX 76544, United States of America. Electronic address:

Background: Brugada pattern is a well-known pathological finding on electrocardiogram (ECG) which increases the likelihood of cardiac arrest due to ventricular arrhythmia. These cases generally present in younger patients without evidence of an electrolyte abnormality, structural heart disease, or cardiac ischemia. In many instances, this pattern is either hidden on initial presentation or presents as an incidental finding on an EKG. Read More

Cardiovasc Revasc Med 2018 Oct 25. Epub 2018 Oct 25.

Baystate Medical Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Springfield, MA, United States of America; Tufts University School of Medicine, MA, United States of America.

Background: The radial artery is the access of choice in many catheterization labs around the world due to its proven benefits over the femoral artery access. There has been growing interest in the left radial artery. We sought to evaluate the feasibility, safety and complication rates of the left distal radial artery (ldTRA) access for cardiac catheterization. Read More

Shock 2018 Nov 6. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

Institut fu[Combining Diaeresis]r Ana[Combining Diaeresis]sthesiologische Pathophysiologie und Verfahrensentwicklung, Universita[Combining Diaeresis]tsklinikum Ulm, Ulm, Germany.

Hyperoxia (ventilation with FIO2 = 1.0) has vasoconstrictor properties, in particular in the coronary vascular bed, and, hence, may promote cardiac dysfunction. However, we previously showed that hyperoxia attenuated myocardial injury during resuscitation from hemorrhage in swine with coronary artery disease. Read More

Ann Intern Med 2018 Nov;169(9):636-642

Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (S.P.D.).

Jeremy Swan and William Ganz developed their eponymous pulmonary artery (PA) catheter in the 1970s and, in the process, revolutionized measurement of cardiac output, pressures within the left side of the heart, and resistance in systemic and pulmonary circulations. Their invention enabled diagnostic measurements at the bedside and contributed to the birth of critical care medicine; technologic advances preceding the PA catheter generally could not be used at the bedside and required patients to be stable enough to be taken to the catheterization laboratory. Swan and Ganz worked in the same department but had quite dissimilar backgrounds and personalities. Read More

JACC Cardiovasc Interv 2018 Nov 1;11(22):2300-2310. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.

Objectives: This was a first-in-human study to assess the feasibility, safety, and exploratory efficacy of interatrial shunting for treating high-risk heart failure (HF) in patients with reduced and preserved ejection fraction.

Methods: A single-arm open-label study of patients with New York Heart Association functional class III or IV HF on optimal therapy was performed at 6 centers. The V-Wave shunt, an hourglass-shaped implant containing a 1-way bioprosthetic valve, was implanted by transseptal catheterization. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2018 Nov 2;19:1306-1310. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, OH, USA.

BACKGROUND Non-atherosclerotic causes of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are uncommon, and there are few case reports of acute myocardial infarction secondary to coronary artery embolism. CASE REPORT A 66-year-old man presented with shortness of breath and leg swelling. Diagnoses of congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation were made. Read More

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2018 Oct 31:218492318811557. Epub 2018 Oct 31.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.

An 8-year-old girl with no history of chest pain or exertional dyspnea was admitted for atrial septal defect closure. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a sac in the right atrium, protruding from the left ventricle. A left ventricular aneurysm was confirmed by cardiac catheterization. Read More

Tex Heart Inst J 2018 08 1;45(4):247-251. Epub 2018 Aug 1.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy can present with transient apical, midventricular, or basal left ventricular ballooning patterns. Reported recurrences of this cardiomyopathy are few. We present the cases of 2 elderly women who each had 3 episodes of takotsubo cardiomyopathy in various ballooning patterns. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2018 Oct;7(20):e009775

1 Department of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport LA.

Background The Sigma 1 receptor (Sigmar1) functions as an interorganelle signaling molecule and elicits cytoprotective functions. The presence of Sigmar1 in the heart was first reported on the basis of a ligand-binding assay, and all studies to date have been limited to pharmacological approaches using less-selective ligands for Sigmar1. However, the physiological function of cardiac Sigmar1 remains unknown. Read More

Int Heart J 2018 Nov 25;59(6):1219-1226. Epub 2018 Oct 25.

Division of Cardiology and Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital.

The relationship between epicardial adipose tissue volume (EATV) and plaque vulnerability in non-culprit coronary lesions is not clearly understood.Fifty-four consecutive patients/158 lesions with suspected coronary artery disease underwent computed tomography (CT) and 40 MHz intravascular ultrasound imaging (iMap-IVUS) in cardiac catheterization. Cross-sectional CT slices were semiautomatically traced from base to apex of the heart. Read More

Int Heart J 2018 Nov 25;59(6):1480-1484. Epub 2018 Oct 25.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center.

In patients with an atrial septal defect (ASD) and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), to avoid the development of acute left heart failure (HF) and an increase in myocardial oxygen consumption following ASD closure, it is conceivable that coronary artery revascularization should be performed prior to ASD closure. We report the case of a 67-year-old man with a large secundum ASD and LV ejection fraction of 15.6% resulting from severe ischemic cardiomyopathy and triple-vessel CAD, both of which contributed to biventricular HF characterized by high left-to-right shunt (Qp:Qs of 7. Read More

Vet Surg 2018 Oct 26. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois.

Objective: To report the diagnosis and treatment of a companion dorper wether with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

Study Design: Case report.

Animal: An 8-month-old dorper wether presented to its primary care veterinarian for a persistent cough and was referred for suspected heart failure on the basis of physical examination and thoracic radiography. Read More

Radiology 2019 Jan 23;290(1):61-68. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

From the Academic Department of Radiology, University of Sheffield, Floor C, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Rd, Sheffield S10 2JF, England (C.S.J., P.G., R.S., D.A.C., J.M.W., A.J.S.); and Sheffield Pulmonary Vascular Disease Unit (D.G.K., S.R., N.H., C.E., I.S., A.C., R.C.) and Department of Radiology (C.S.J., C.H., S.T., K.K., A.J.S.), Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield, England.

Purpose To derive and test multiparametric cardiac MRI models for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Materials and Methods Images and patient data from consecutive patients suspected of having PH who underwent cardiac MRI and right-sided heart catheterization (RHC) between 2012 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Of 2437 MR images identified, 603 fit the inclusion criteria. Read More

Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2018 Oct 22. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Holy Family Hospital, Mumbai, India.

Objective: To describe a subset of atrial septal defect (ASD) with severe pulmonary hypertension (PHT) that is suitable for closure.

Background: As per American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines, ASD with elevated pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) >2/3rd systemic is considered as a contraindication for closure.

Methods: Patients with anatomically large ASD measuring >25 mm and a high probability of reversible pulmonary vascular disease were subjected to fenestrated device closure, despite severe PHT and elevated PVR. Read More

Cureus 2018 Aug 10;10(8):e3129. Epub 2018 Aug 10.

Internal Medicine, Combined Military Hospital, Lahore, PAK.

Neurogenic stunned myocardium (NSM) is defined as the occurrence of cardiac abnormalities due to neurological events such as stroke, seizures, etc. These events lead to dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and ultimately cause injury to the myocardium. The clinical features seen in NSM include elevated troponin level, left ventricular dysfunction, and changes on the electrocardiogram (ECG). Read More

Pediatr Cardiol 2018 Oct 20. Epub 2018 Oct 20.

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Holtz Children's Hospital/Jackson Memorial Hospital, P.O. Box 016960 (R-76), Miami, FL, 33101, USA.

Anomalous origin of left coronary artery (LCA) from the right coronary cusp with an intramural course is usually managed with unroofing of the intramural segment. Available literature demonstrates an uneventful course following surgery in most patients. Coronary stenosis following the unroofing procedure treated with percutaneous coronary intervention has not been described in the past. Read More