Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Clin Case Rep 2019 Apr 14;7(4):816-820. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Centre for Research and Development Uppsala University/Region Gävleborg Gävle Sweden.

Contrast-enhanced echocardiography or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is of value in the diagnosis of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is rare in Caucasians, and gene negativity does not rule out the diagnosis. Risk stratification for sudden cardiac death and decisions about anticoagulation in cases with atrial fibrillation should be based on guidelines. Read More

J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Cardiac Imaging Department.

Aims: Left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction is a key feature of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) that identifies patients at increased risk of adverse outcomes. Previous studies have hypothesized that LVOT obstruction enhances myocardial fibrosis and increases left ventricular (LV) filling pressures, producing greater clinical deterioration. However, this hypothesis has not been demonstrated in a clinical cohort comparing obstructive and nonobstructive patients. Read More

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

Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies, Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung (DZHK) Berlin, Department of Cardiology, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charite - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Cardiomyopathies are a heterogeneous group of heart muscle diseases and an important cause of heart failure (HF). Current knowledge on incidence, pathophysiology and natural history of HF in cardiomyopathies is limited, and distinct features of their therapeutic responses have not been systematically addressed. Therefore, this position paper focuses on epidemiology, pathophysiology, natural history and latest developments in treatment of HF in patients with dilated (DCM), hypertrophic (HCM) and restrictive (RCM) cardiomyopathies. Read More

Int J Cardiol 2019 Mar 28. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Cardiovascular Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy.

Background: Although imaging techniques have demonstrated the existence of microvascular abnormalities in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a detailed histopathological assessment is lacking as well as a comparison between different phases of the disease. We aimed to compare microvasculopathy and myocardial fibrosis in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) versus end-stage (ES) HCM.

Methods: 27 myectomy specimens of HOCM patients and 30 ES-HCM explanted hearts were analyzed. Read More

Cureus 2019 Jan 29;11(1):e3979. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Internal Medicine, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, USA.

Apical variant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (AHCM) is a known entity since its first introduction by Sakamoto and Yamaguchi. However, unlike classical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), it is less explored in terms of its associated diagnosis and long-term outcomes. Through this case presentation, we aim to have an in-depth review to help physicians identify and better understand several aspects of AHCM. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2019 Apr;8(8):e012250

10 University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Madison WI.

Background Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is defined as unexplained left ventricular ( LV ) hypertrophy (wall thickness ≥15 mm) and is prevalent in 0.2% of adults (1:500) in population-based studies using echocardiography. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ) allows for more accurate wall thickness measurement across the entire ventricle than echocardiography. Read More

BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2019 Apr 3;19(1):81. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Department of Cardiology, St Francis Hospital and Medical Center, 114 Woodland St, Hartford, CT, 06105, USA.

Background: Left ventricular apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a rare presentation of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy associated with thickening of the apical segment of the left ventricle. It was initially described in Japan in 1976 and is characterized by electrocardiogram findings showing giant T wave inversions in the precordial leads as well as a spade shaped appearance of the apical cavity on imaging (Abugroun et al., Cardiol Res 8:265-268, 2017). Read More

JACC Clin Electrophysiol 2019 Mar 26;5(3):364-375. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center of Excellence, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Division of Cardiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California. Electronic address:

Objectives: This study hypothesized that paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) reflects the presence of a more severe cardiac hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) phenotype.

Background: HCM is characterized by myocyte hypertrophy, fibrosis, and a high prevalence of PAF. It is currently unresolved whether atrial fibrillation (AF) is a marker or a mediator of adverse outcomes in HCM. Read More

Zhonghua Xin Xue Guan Bing Za Zhi 2019 Mar;47(3):204-208

Department of Magnetic Resonance, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China.

To compare the imaging characteristics and long-term prognosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM) patients with or without left ventricular apical aneurysm(LVAA). Retrospectively analyzed the clinical data from 18 patients diagnosed as HCM complicating with LVAA(HCM-LVAA group), hospitalized and underwent cardiac magentic resonance (CMR) examination in Fuwai Hospital between December 2012 and December 2016. Eighteen age and gender matched patients with HCM diagnosed by CMR served as control(HCM group). Read More

JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Mar 8. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas. Electronic address:

Rev Port Cardiol 2019 Feb 11;38(2):129-139. Epub 2019 Mar 11.

Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal; I3S - Institute for Innovation and Health Research, Portugal; Department of Cardiology, São João Hospital Center, Portugal.

Introduction: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease of the heart muscle characterized by ventricular dilatation and impaired systolic function. Familial forms account for 30-50% of cases. Autosomal dominant inheritance is the predominant pattern of transmission. Read More

J Cardiovasc Magn Reson 2019 Mar 14;21(1):19. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research (OCMR), Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, BHF Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Background: Cardiovascular phosphorus MR spectroscopy (P-CMRS) is a powerful tool for probing energetics in the human heart, through quantification of phosphocreatine (PCr) to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) ratio. In principle, P-CMRS can also measure cardiac intracellular pH (pH) and the free energy of ATP hydrolysis (ΔG). However, these require determination of the inorganic phosphate (Pi) signal frequency and amplitude that are currently not robustly accessible because blood signals often obscure the Pi resonance. Read More

Echocardiography 2019 Mar 13. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Division of Cardiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.

Asian hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (AHCM) is a rare variant of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) that is more prevalent in the Asian population. There is significant overlap between AHCM, mid-cavitary obstruction, and apical aneurysms. Although more benign compared to HCM, the course of AHCM is not clearly defined. Read More

J Nucl Cardiol 2019 Mar 7. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Department of Quantum Medical Technology, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.

Background: The spectrum dynamics (SD) algorithm is a cardiac reconstruction algorithm of D-SPECT, which improves spatial resolution compared with the ordered-subsets expectation maximization (OSEM) algorithm. We evaluated the wall thickness and left ventricular (LV) volume in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) using the SD algorithm.

Methods: In a phantom study, the myocardial wall was scanned with varying wall thicknesses (10-40 mm). Read More

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Mar 5. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Department of Cardiology, Rabin Medical Center - Beilinson Hospital, 49100, Petach Tikva, Israel.

Myocardial crypts can be recognized in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) using magnetic resonance imaging, but similar studies using computed tomography (CT) are sparse. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence and morphology of myocardial crypts in patients with HCM, arterial hypertension, and aortic valve stenosis using contrast-enhanced CT. We also investigated the added value of a finding of myocardial crypts on CT scan to the diagnosis of HCM. Read More

Arch Cardiovasc Dis 2019 Apr 28;112(4):278-287. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

French Referral Centre for Fabry Disease, Division of Medical Genetics, hôpital Raymond-Poincare, AP-HP, 92380 Garches, France; Inserm U1179, University of Versailles, 78180 Montigny, France.

Fabry disease is an X-linked progressive multisystemic genetic sphingolipidosis caused by deficient activity of lysosomal α-galactosidase A. Men aged>30 years and women aged>40 years most often present with unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy, usually concentric and non-obstructive, but sometimes mimicking sarcomeric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, particularly when isolated, as in the cardiac or late-onset variant of the disease. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy cohorts, up to 1% of patients have been diagnosed with Fabry disease. Read More

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Mar 1. Epub 2019 Mar 1.

Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Surgical therapies in aortic valve stenosis (AVS) and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) aim to relief intraventricular pressure overload and improve clinical outcome. It is currently unknown to what extent myocardial adaptation concurs with restoration of intraventricular pressures, and whether this is similar in both patient groups. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in myocardial adaptation after surgical therapies for AVS and HOCM. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Feb 25;9(1):2644. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.

The association between global and segmental myocardial strain impairment and fibrosis extent in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is widely verified. The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of high T2-weighted signal intensity (HighT2) to myocardial deformation in HCM. We prospectively recruited 57 patients with HCM examined by a 3. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2019 Mar;8(5):e011269

1 Department of Echocardiography Heart Center Beijing ChaoYang Hospital Capital Medical University Beijing China.

Background Impaired right ventricular ( RV ) function indicates RV involvement in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy ( HCM ). We aimed to assess RV function at rest and during exercise in HCM patients and to examine the association between impaired RV mechanics and exercise capacity. Methods and Results A total of 76 HCM patients (48 without and 28 with RV hypertrophy) and 30 age- and sex-matched controls were prospectively recruited. Read More

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Feb 21. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Department of Internal Medicine (Cardiology), Yale School of Medicine, 330 Cedar St, Boardman 110, P.O. Box 208056, New Haven, CT, 06520-8056, USA.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is associated with increased left ventricular (LV) mass, decreased myocardial strain, and the presence of LV fibrosis and scar. The relationship between LV scar and fibrosis with left atrial (LA) fibrosis in the setting of HCM has not been examined. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate a correlation between the degree of LA fibrosis and LV parameters in subjects with HCM. Read More

Eur J Radiol Open 2019 4;6:78-84. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.

Purpose: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterized by a heterogeneous morphology and variable prognosis. A mismatch between left ventricular mass (LVM) and microvascular circulation with corresponding relative ischemia has been implicated to cause myocardial replacement fibrosis that deteriorates prognosis. Besides parametric T1 mapping, Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) T2* mapping is able to identify ischemia as well as fibrosis in cardiac and extracardiac diseases. Read More

PLoS One 2019 14;14(2):e0211624. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.

Background: We aimed to characterize gender specific left ventricular hypertrophy using a novel, accurate and less time demanding cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) quantification method to differentiate physiological hypertrophy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy based on a large population of highly trained athletes and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients.

Methods: Elite athletes (n = 150,>18 training hours/week), HCM patients (n = 194) and athletes with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (n = 10) were examined by CMR. CMR based sport indices such as maximal end-diastolic wall thickness to left ventricular end-diastolic volume index ratio (EDWT/LVEDVi) and left ventricular mass to left ventricular end-diastolic volume ratio (LVM/LVEDV) were calculated, established using both conventional and threshold-based quantification method. Read More

Int Heart J 2019 Mar 8;60(2):477-481. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Division of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University.

This case report demonstrates a pair of monozygotic twins with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) carrying the same pathogenic mutation of MYH7 (p.G768R; c.2302G>A), detected by whole exome and Sanger genetic sequencing methods. Read More

Rev Med Interne 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Fédération médico-chirurgicale de cardiologie, CHU Rangueil, 1, avenue Jean-Poulhès, TSA 50032, 31059 Toulouse cedex 9, France; Centre d'imagerie cardiaque, CHU de Toulouse, 31000 Toulouse, France; Faculté de médecine Toulouse - Purpan, université Paul-Sabatier, 31000 Toulouse, France. Electronic address:

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathies represent a heterogeneous group of pathophysiological mechanisms and etiologies (genetic or not), which lead to the development of left ventricular hypertrophy. Left ventricular hypertrophy, when not explained by a significant and prolonged increase in post-load (such as severe poorly controlled arterial hypertension or severe aortic stenosis) justifies etiological exploration. The etiology may range from physiological adaptation in the athlete to myocardial involvement, isolated or integrated as part of a global neuromuscular involvement; metabolic or mitochondrial disease to deposition disease. Read More

Circ Res 2019 Apr;124(8):1228-1239

From the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine (A.J.S., K.S., S.P., Y.-F.C., C.N.B., F.A.B., H.W., C.S.R., P.R., M.J.D.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom.

Rationale: Subcellular Ca indicators have yet to be developed for the myofilament where disease mutation or small molecules may alter contractility through myofilament Ca sensitivity. Here, we develop and characterize genetically encoded Ca indicators restricted to the myofilament to directly visualize Ca changes in the sarcomere.

Objective: To produce and validate myofilament-restricted Ca imaging probes in an adenoviral transduction adult cardiomyocyte model using drugs that alter myofilament function (MYK-461, omecamtiv mecarbil, and levosimendan) or following cotransduction of 2 established hypertrophic cardiomyopathy disease-causing mutants (cTnT [Troponin T] R92Q and cTnI [Troponin I] R145G) that alter myofilament Ca handling. Read More

Eur J Prev Cardiol 2019 Feb 6:2047487319828474. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

2 The Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), occurring in approximately 25% of patients, which is four to six times more common than in similarly aged patients of the general population. Atrial fibrillation is poorly tolerated by HCM patients, largely due to their dependence on atrial systole for left ventricular filling. HCM patients who develop atrial fibrillation have an increased rate of heart failure related mortality and disabling or fatal thromboembolic events, as well as functional deterioration due to progressive heart failure when left untreated. Read More

Cardiovasc Interv Ther 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Department of Cardiology, Sendai Kousei Hospital, Hirosemachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-0873, Japan.

Preprocedural computed tomography (CT) imaging appears to provide an advantage in localization of the appropriate septal branch targeted for alcohol septal ablation (ASA). The objective of this study was to compare the clinical backgrounds, procedural characteristics, and outcomes of patients who underwent ASA with preprocedural CT assessment against those without CT assessment. Thirty consecutive patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who underwent ASA were retrospectively included. Read More

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Cardiology Department, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Carretera de Colmenar Km 9.100, 28034, Madrid, Spain.

Left atrium (LA) size has an important role in determining prognosis and risk stratification in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Cardiovascular magnetic resonance myocardial feature tracking (CMR-FT) is a novel technique for the quantification of LA function. Our aim was first to evaluate LA function by CMR-FT and volumetric analysis in patients with HCM; and secondly we sought to determine the association of LA-longitudinal strain (LA-LS) with major cardiovascular outcomes, particularly all cause mortality and heart failure. Read More

Circ Res 2019 Apr;124(8):1172-1183

From the Department of Genetics (C.N.T., A.S., A.C.G., M.N., J.A.L.W., R.A., M.S., J.R., O.P., J.G.S., C.E.S.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Rationale: Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) in combination with CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing provide unparalleled opportunities to study cardiac biology and disease. However, sarcomeres, the fundamental units of myocyte contraction, are immature and nonlinear in hiPSC-CMs, which technically challenge accurate functional interrogation of contractile parameters in beating cells. Furthermore, existing analysis methods are relatively low-throughput, indirectly assess contractility, or only assess well-aligned sarcomeres found in mature cardiac tissues. Read More

Environ Int 2019 Mar 25;124:511-520. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal. Electronic address:

Background: Endocrine disruption is one of the consequences of industrialization and chemicals released into the environment have a profound impact on organisms. Waterborne micromolar concentrations of ioxynil (IOX) and diethylstilbestrol (DES) in fish affect the development of the heart, vasculature and thyroid gland.

Objectives: The present study aimed to determine how IOX and DES disrupt the crosstalk between the developing thyroid gland and cardio-vascular system in zebrafish. Read More

Ann Cardiol Angeiol (Paris) 2019 Jan 22. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Centre de médecine et des sciences de sport, Tunis, Tunisia.

Introduction: Premature ventricular complexes (PVC) are generally considered as a benign electrocardiographic abnormality in the athletic population. However it may be indicative of underlying heart disease which may increase the risk of sudden death. This implies the need for cardiological evaluation before indicating the ability to practice competitive sports. Read More

Neth Heart J 2019 Mar;27(3):117-126

Department of Cardiology, Thorax Centre, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Background: Previous studies have reported that global longitudinal strain (GLS) is reduced in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) while left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is normal. Our aim was to assess GLS in individuals with HCM mutations without hypertrophic changes and to determine its prognostic value for the development of HCM.

Methods And Results: This retrospective case-control and cohort study included 120 HCM mutation carriers and 110 controls. Read More

Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2019 Jan 23;17(1). Epub 2019 Jan 23.

University of Molise, Health Sciences Department-Campobasso, Campobasso, IT, Italy.

The Anderson-Fabry disease (AFD, or simply Fabry Disease, FD; MIM #301500) is a rare X-linked lysosomal storage disorder (Xq22.1) characterized by progressive renal failure, leading to morbidity through cardio- and cerebro-vascular involvement. Despite the classic phenotype, only cardiac involvement (cardiac variant of AFD; MIM 301500) is frequent in about 40% of male and 28% of female AFD patients, as reported by the Fabry Registry ( https://www. Read More

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Jan 21. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Flinders Medical Centre, 1 Flinders Drive, Bedford Park 5042, Adelaide, Australia.

Aims: Myocardial oxygenation is impaired in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), and possibly also in HCM gene carriers without LVH. Whether these oxygenation changes are also associated with abnormalities in diastolic function or left ventricular (LV) strain are unknown.

Methods And Results: We evaluated 60 subjects: 20 MYBPC3 gene positive patients with LVH (G+LVH+), 18 MYBPC3 gene positive without LVH (G+LVH-), 11 gene negative siblings (G-), and 11 normal controls (NC). Read More

Int J Cardiol 2019 Apr 4;280:135-141. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Ultrasound Department, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China. Electronic address:

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common genetic cardiovascular disease, causing breathlessness, chest pain, syncope and sudden death. One-year outcome of echo-guided transthoracic percutaneous laser ablation (TPLA) of the sheep interventricular septum was studied as a novel treatment to reduce the septal thickness. It may partially address the limitations of surgical myectomy and alcohol septal ablation in terms of trauma, safety, and efficacy. Read More

JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Jan 16. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Department of Medicine (Cardiovascular Division), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address:

Objectives: This study sought to examine the diagnostic ability of radiomic texture analysis (TA) on quantitative cardiovascular magnetic resonance images to differentiate between hypertensive heart disease (HHD) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Background: HHD and HCM are associated with increased left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT). Contemporary guidelines define HCM as LVWT ≥15 mm that is unexplained by other disease, which complicates diagnosis in cases of co-occurrences. Read More

JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Jan 9. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, Division of Cardiology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Jan 17. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Department of Echocardiography, Heart Center, Beijing Chao Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gongren Tiyuchang Nanlu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, People's Republic of China.

The present study investigated the changes of biventricular mechanics at rest and during exercise and examined the association between exercise capacity and biventricular mechanics and functional reserve in nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (NHCM) patients. A total of 50 NHCM patients and 25 controls were consecutively recruited for this study. Using echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle-tracking imaging, an experienced echocardiographer determined the following indices: RV free wall longitudinal strain (RVFWLS), LV global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), strain rate (SR), and functional reserve of strain values. Read More

Braz J Cardiovasc Surg 2018 Nov-Dec;33(6):634-637

Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa (UEPG), Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil.

This paper presents a case study of a 30-year-old male patient with dyspnea on exertion had echocardiographic diagnosis of aortic subvalvar stenosis. Discrete mitral regurgitation and aortic valve dysplasia with mild to moderate insufficiency and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were also noted. During surgery, a rare condition was identified: presence of papillary muscle anomaly associated with the subaortic membrane as a cause of obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract. Read More

Acta Cardiol 2019 Jan 16:1-3. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

a Department of Nuclear Medicine , Ankara Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences , Ankara , Turkey.

3D Print Med 2018 Dec 6;4(1):15. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

University of Illinois College of Medicine, 1 Illini Drive, Peoria, IL, 61605, USA.

Objectives: The purpose was to create a time sequential three-dimensional virtual reality model, also referred to as a four-dimensional model, to explore its possible benefit and clinical applications. We hypothesized that this novel solution allows for the visuospatial benefits of the 3D model and the dynamic benefits of other existing imaging modalities.

Background: We have seen how 3D models hold great value in medical decision making by eliminating the variable visuospatial skills of practitioners. Read More

Kardiochir Torakochirurgia Pol 2018 Dec 31;15(4):246-253. Epub 2018 Dec 31.

Cardiology Institute and Clinic, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (AHCM) is a rare form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, occasionally resulting in severe complications. The paper covers the etiology and pathogenesis of AHCM, different imaging methods and characteristic appearance of the disease in each of them. Echocardiography and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) are known to be the most valuable imaging methods. Read More

Heart 2019 Jan 15. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

CMR Unit, Bristol Heart Institute, University of Bristol and University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK.

Clinical Introduction: A young adult with Friedreich ataxia complaining of exertional breathlessness underwent a cardiological evaluation. On physical examination, high blood pressure and a loud systolic murmur were noted. ECG showed sinus rhythm with voltage criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and T-wave changes in the inferolateral leads. Read More

Kardiol Pol 2019 15;77(2):164-172. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Department of Cardiology, Fatebenefratelli Hospital of Benevento, Benevento, Italy.

Stress echocardiography (SE) is based on the detection of regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA) mirroring a physiologi-cally critical epicardial artery stenosis which determines subendocardial underperfusion. Recently, the core protocol of SE has been enriched by the addition of left ventricular contractile reserve (LVCR) based on force. Changes in force can be caused by microvascular and/or epicardial coronary artery disease, but also by myocardial scar, necrosis, and/or sub-epicardial layer disease. Read More

Int Heart J 2019 Mar 10;60(2):327-335. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Clinical EP Lab & Arrhythmia Center, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Data regarding the correlations of biomarkers and AF in HCM patients are rather limited. We sought to explore the associations between the presence of AF and circulating biomarkers reflecting cardiovascular function (N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, NT-pro BNP), endothelial function (big endothelin-1, big ET-1), inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), and myocardial damage (cardiac troponin I, cTnI) in HCM patients with and without left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO). Read More

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, 5-7-1 Fujishiro-dai, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565, Japan.

Exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension (EIPH) is associated with worse outcomes in patients with heart failure or valvular heart disease. However, little is known regarding the implications of EIPH in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients. We retrospectively reviewed data of consecutive HCM patients who underwent clinically indicated exercise echocardiography using a semi-supine bicycle ergometer at our hospital. Read More

Ann Clin Lab Sci 2018 Nov;48(6):785-789

Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Mucolipidosis III alpha/beta (ML III alpha/beta) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase (GlcNAc-phosphotransferase) deficiency. It is characterized by coarse facial features, developmental delay, short stature, and skeletal deformities. Its cardiovascular symptoms include valvular thickening or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Read More

Heart Surg Forum 2018 11 7;21(6):E443-E447. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China.

Background: We sought to analyze the pathological characteristics of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) with concomitant mitral valve abnormalities and to discuss the surgical treatment strategies.

Methods: The clinical data of 26 HOCM patients treated from January 2014 to March 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 19 males and 7 females with a mean age of 47 ± 16 years (range, 10-70 years). Read More

Acta Cardiol 2019 Jan 3:1-5. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

a Department of Cardiology , Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (AIMS) , Kochi , India.

Background: Fragmented QRS (fQRS) and Q waves are ECG findings in patients with myocardial scar. fQRS is more sensitive than pathological Q waves in detecting myocardial fibrosis in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is used for the diagnosis and for quantifying scar tissue in patients with HCM. Read More

Echocardiography 2019 02 1;36(2):266-275. Epub 2019 Jan 1.

Department of Echocardiography, Heart Center, Beijing Chao Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Background: Reduced metabolic equivalents (METs) are an indicator of exercise intolerance, which predicts poor prognosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients. We sought to evaluate the changes in left ventricular (LV) mechanics and functional reserves, as well as their association with functional capacity in HCM patients.

Methods: Seventy HCM patients and thirty controls were included in this study. Read More