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ESC Heart Fail 2019 Mar 12. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, D-30625, Hannover, Germany.

Aims: Understanding the pathophysiological background on haemodynamic changes in acute myocardial infarction and during its interventional treatment is important to adequately use mechanical circulatory support.

Methods And Results: We describe haemodynamic simulations based on a real case scenario of infarct-related ischaemia with beginning haemodynamic compromise illustrating the advantage of active haemodynamic support. The patient case used for computer simulation is that of an acute coronary syndrome, slightly hypotonic. Read More

Ann Cardiothorac Surg 2019 Jan;8(1):76-83

Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, German Heart Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Background: Temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) offers a valuable option for treatment of refractory heart failure. We present our experience with selected MCS devices in cardiogenic shock of different etiologies.

Methods: We retrospectively studied patients who were treated in our institution between 01/2016 and 07/2018. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2019 Mar;8(5):e011029

1 Heart Centre Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast United Kingdom.

Background Left circumflex culprit is often missed by the standard 12-lead ECG . Extended lead systems (body surface potential map [ BSPM ]) should improve the diagnosis of culprit left circumflex stenosis with myocardial infarction. Methods and Results Retrospective analysis of a hospital research registry (August 2000-August 2010) comprising consecutive patients with (1) ischemic-type chest pain at rest; (2) 12-lead ECG and 80-lead BSPM at first medical contact; and (3) cardiac troponin-T 12 hours after symptom onset and/or creatine kinase MB fraction, were undertaken. Read More

Case Rep Cardiol 2019 23;2019:4591250. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI, USA.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) resulting in cardiogenic shock continues to be a substantial source of morbidity and mortality despite advances in recognition and treatment. Prior to the advent of percutaneous and more durable left ventricular support devices, prompt revascularization with the addition of vasopressors and inotropes were the standard of care in the management of this critical population. Recent published studies have shown that in addition to prompt revascularization, unloading of the left ventricle with the placement of the Impella percutaneous axillary flow pump can lead to improvement in mortality. Read More

Int J Cardiol 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Montreal Heart Institute Adult Congenital Center, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada. Electronic address:

Background: Sudden death is the leading cause of mortality in patients with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and atrial switch surgery. Understanding underlying mechanisms could contribute to identifying high-risk patients and preventing such catastrophic deaths.

Methods: A total of 144 adults (≥18 years) with TGA and atrial switch surgery were followed at our adult congenital center since 1989. Read More

Turk J Emerg Med 2019 Jan 17;19(1):33-35. Epub 2018 Jul 17.

Department of Radiology, Medical Faculty of Bozok University, Adnan Menderes Bulvarı No:44, 66020, Yozgat, Turkey.

Introduction: In patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), minimizing the reperfusion time is the goal of therapy worldwide. However, the differential diagnosis is critical and when a patient is encountered with chest pain and ST elevation, STEMI should not be the only diagnosis considered. By detailed history and focused physical examination, it is possible to avoid a mistaken diagnosis. Read More

Clin Anat 2019 Feb 20. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom.

A rule of human anatomy is that all structures within the body should be described relative to the so-called "anatomical position." Along with those describing structures such as the skull and liver, those accounting for the components of the heart consistently break this rule, describing the organ as if removed from the body and positioned on its apex, the so-called "Valentine position." Although potentially appropriate to some animal species, this approach produces problems when used in human anatomy, even if the right and left ventricles are only viewed in truly right-sided and left-sided positions when assessed in the Valentine fashion. Read More

Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med 2019 Feb 28;3(1):85-86. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Palmerston North Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Roslyn, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, National Institute for Health Research, Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Leicester, United Kingdom.

Objectives: This study sought to assess the presence and extent of focal and diffuse fibrosis in heart failure in patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) compared to asymptomatic control subjects, and the relationship of fibrosis to clinical outcome.

Background: Myocardial fibrosis has been implicated in the pathophysiology of HFpEF.

Methods: In this prospective, observational study, 140 subjects of similar age and sex (HFpEF: n = 96; control subjects: n = 44; 73 ± 8 years of age; 49% males) underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Read More

Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Motivation: Left heart failure (LHF) is the most common cause of pulmonary hypertension, which confers an increase in morbidity and mortality in this context. Pulmonary vascular resistance has prognostic value in LHF but otherwise the mechanical consequences of LHF for the pulmonary vasculature and right ventricle remain unknown. We sought to investigate mechanical mechanisms of pulmonary vascular and right ventricular dysfunction in a rodent model of LHF to address the knowledge gaps in understanding disease pathophysiology. Read More

Heart 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

University Hospital Hairmyres, East Kilbridge, UK.

CLINICAL INTRODUCTION: A 50-year-old woman presented with an inferoposterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Angiography revealed acute occlusion of the circumflex and right coronary (RCA) arteries. PCI was uncomplicated. Read More

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med 2018 31;5(1):000742. Epub 2018 Jan 31.

Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marienhospital, Oberhausen, Germany.

A 46-year-old woman presented to the emergency room with acute onset of nausea, vomiting and prostration. She appeared ill and was poorly responsive to verbal stimuli. Physical examination showed a systolic blood pressure of 60 mmHg and a pulse of 40 bpm. Read More

Cardiovasc Res 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Research Center of the Montreal Heart Institute.

Aims: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) causes lung remodelling with myofibroblasts proliferation and fibrosis leading to a restrictive lung syndrome with pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. PBI-4050 is a first-in-class anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative compound. The present study evaluated the therapeutic impact of PBI-4050 on PH in an HFrEF model. Read More

G Ital Cardiol (Rome) 2019 Feb;20(2):117-119

Divisione di Cardiologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Ospedale Maria Vittoria, Torino.

The majority of myxomas are located in the left atrium (75%) followed by the right atrium (20%). In rare cases, myxomas can be found in the ventricles, with 2.5% reported for myxomas in the left ventricle. Read More

Life Sci 2019 Mar 5;221:212-223. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, United States of America. Electronic address:

Aims: To determine the metabolic adaptations to compensated heart failure using a reproducible model of myocardial infarction and an unbiased metabolic screen. To address the limitations in sample availability and model variability observed in preclinical and clinical metabolic investigations of heart failure.

Main Methods: Metabolomic analysis was performed on serum and myocardial tissue from rabbits after myocardial infarction (MI) was induced by cryo-injury of the left ventricular free wall. Read More

Echocardiography 2019 03 6;36(3):621. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Cardiology Department, Tehran Heart Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, I.R. Iran.

Echocardiography 2019 03 6;36(3):622. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Department of Cardiology, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.

BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2019 Feb 4;19(1):35. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Critical Care Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.

Background: Previous studies have found a connection between left coronary artery dominance and worse prognoses in patient with acute coronary syndrome, which remains a predominant cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The aim of this study was to investigate whether coronary dominance is associated with the incidence of acute inferior myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: Between January 2011 and November 2014, 265 patients with acute inferior MI and 530 age-matched and sex-matched controls were recruited for a case-control study in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University in Xi'an, China. Read More

J Pineal Res 2019 Feb 4:e12564. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.

Background: Melatonin is a multifunctional indolamine and has a cardioprotective role in a variety of cardiovascular processes via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, antithrombotic, and antilipemic effects. It has been reported that lower levels of circulating melatonin are significantly associated with a higher risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and later cardiac remodeling. However, levels of melatonin in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and associations between melatonin levels and cardiac function remain unclear. Read More

Coron Artery Dis 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Cardiology, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Background: Rapid diagnosis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is crucial for appropriate management. Catheterization for a false STEMI activation has risks including exposure to contrast agent and radiation, increased healthcare costs and delay in treatment of the primary medical condition.

Patients And Methods: This was a single center retrospective study including all 'cath alerts' between January 2012 and December 2015. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jan;98(4):e14174

Department of Cardiovascular medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.

Ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) is a kind of malignant arrhythmia in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients who received primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). However, there are no risk assessment tools to anticipate the occurrence of VT/VF.This study is to build a risk assessment model to predict the possibility of VT/VF onset in STEMI patients undergoing PPCI. Read More

Kardiochir Torakochirurgia Pol 2018 Dec 31;15(4):238-240. Epub 2018 Dec 31.

Department of Family Medicine, Lviv National Medical University named after Danylo Halytsky, Lviv, Ukraine.

Introduction: Estimation of cardiosurgical intervention risk according to EuroSCORE is an important aspect of cardiosurgery. EuroSCORE allows prediction of the probability of a post-operational fatal outcome.

Aim: To estimate the influence of gallbladder condition on the prognosis after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and and the interactions between metabolic background and cardiosurgical intervention risk. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jan;98(2):e14065

Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital.

Rationale: Although novel oral-anticoagulants are widely used in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) for stroke prevention, there was only limited evidence for their use in left ventricular (LV) thrombus.

Patient Concerns: A 41-year-old man who presented with acute onset of right-hand clumsiness and aphasia even under high international normalized ratio (INR: 7.64) from warfarin use. Read More

Am J Med Case Rep 2018 7;6(10):218-221. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203 USA.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare illness often misdiagnosed, that accounts for up to 4% of cases of acute coronary syndrome in young women. Interestingly, SCAD is the most common cause of myocardial infarction related to pregnancy. Here, we present a case of a 35-year old postpartum patient who presented in cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation and was found to have a ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Read More

J Clin Ultrasound 2019 Jan 4. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Department of Cardiovascular Ultrasound, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.

Right ventricular (RV) wall dissection following ventricular septal rupture related to inferior myocardial infarction (MI) is an extremely rare complication with a high mortality rate. We report the case of a 61-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital because of syncope and intermittent chest pain with a precordial murmur. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a rupture at the basal infero-posterior septum and RV free-wall dissection forming an echolucent cavity that extended beyond the septum and subsequently re-entered into RV chamber. Read More

Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao 2018 Dec;38(12):1514-1520

College of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.

Objective: To analyze the morphological features and forensic pathological characteristics of cardiac ruptures of different causes for their differential diagnosis.

Methods: We analyzed the data of 44 autopsy cases of cardiac rupture from 2014 to 2017 in our institute, including 11 cases caused by blunt violence with intact pericardium, 4 caused by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), 9 by myocardial infarction, and 20 by aorta dissection rupture.The gross features and histopathological characteristics of cardiac rupture and pericardial effusion were analyzed and compared. Read More

Heart Fail Rev 2019 Jan 5. Epub 2019 Jan 5.

BIOMED - Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.

Congestion (i.e., backward failure) is an important culprit mechanism driving disease progression in heart failure. Read More

Perfusion 2018 Dec 25:267659118813043. Epub 2018 Dec 25.

3 Division of Cardiac Surgery, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.

A 44-year-old male with ongoing chest pain and left ventricular ejection fraction <20% was transferred from a peripheral hospital with intra-aortic balloon pump placement following a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The patient underwent emergent multi-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting requiring veno-arterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on post-operative day (POD)#9 secondary to cardiogenic shock with biventricular failure. Due to clot formation, an oxygenator change-out was necessary shortly after initiation. Read More

Case Rep Crit Care 2018 19;2018:1568491. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Cardiac Arrest Center, Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

A 66-year-old patient was admitted under continuous resuscitation for pulseless electrical activity. After return of spontaneous circulation ECG showed signs of acute inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction, and echocardiography showed acute right ventricular failure with a dilated right ventricle. Carotid pulses were present in the absence of femoral pulses. Read More

ASAIO J 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

From the Cardio-thoracic Surgery Department.

Peripheral veno-arterial extra corporeal life support (V-A ECLS) is an effective tool in treating refractory cardiogenic shock (RCS). Despite additional use of intra-aortic balloon pump, insufficient left ventricular unloading is a likely complication. We present herein our experience combining V-A ECLS and Impella to treat symptomatic, critical patients. Read More

Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2019 Mar 21;316(3):H684-H692. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, PhyMedExp, Montpellier , France.

Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction can lead to complications after acute inferior myocardial infarction (MI). However, it is unclear how RV failure after MI contributes to left-sided dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to investigate the consequences of right coronary artery (RCA) ligation in mice. Read More

Multimed Man Cardiothorac Surg 2018 Dec 6;2018. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Mie University Graduate School of Medicine 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan.

Papillary muscle rupture is a rare complication after myocardial infarction and almost all cases occur in the mitral valve papillary muscle. Tricuspid regurgitation development after right ventricular myocardial infarction caused by papillary muscle rupture is extremely rare.  In this video tutorial we present a 70-year-old man with massive tricuspid regurgitation caused by papillary muscle rupture after percutaneous stenting of the right coronary artery. Read More

eNeurologicalSci 2018 Dec 22;13:46-48. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Juchgasse 25, A-1030 Wien, Austria.

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a transient transient left ventricular dysfunction, predominantly affecting elderly women and often preceded by emotional or physical stress. TTS may be the cause as well as the consequence of stroke. We report a 82-years old female with a history of long-standing untreated arterial hypertension who was hospitalized because of a left-sided tongue paralysis and dysarthria. Read More

Cardiorenal Med 2019 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

Cardiovasc Toxicol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Cardiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler Street, 1451, 77030, Houston, TX, USA.

The use of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors such as sorafenib is limited by a risk of severe cardiovascular toxicity. A 28-year-old man with acute myeloid leukemia treated with prednisone, tacrolimus, and sorafenib following stem cell transplantation presented with severe bilateral lower extremity claudication. The patient was discharged against medical advice prior to finalizing a cardiovascular evaluation, but returned 1 week later with signs suggestive of septic shock. Read More

J Atr Fibrillation 2018 Aug 31;11(2):2095. Epub 2018 Aug 31.

Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Kansas Hospital and Medical Center, Kansas City, KS.

Ventricular free wall rupture (VFWR) is a rare entity and is mostly related to post myocardial infarction (MI) complications usually involving left ventricle. In traumatic chest injuries, the right ventricle (RV) is more commonly involved due to its anatomic and structural vulnerability, as in our case. Survival, although rare, has almost always been secondary to urgent surgical repair, which is the current standard of care for such cases. Read More

Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992) 2018 Oct;64(10):916-921

Morphology Department, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói/RJ, Brasil.

The septomarginal trabecula is a muscular structure which transmits the right branch of the atrioventricular bundle. It is usually supplied by a branch from the second anterior septal artery. Anastomoses between the right and left coronary arteries may happen on the septomarginal trabecula. Read More

J Electrocardiol 2018 Nov - Dec;51(6):977-980. Epub 2018 Aug 10.

Hennepin County Medical Center, University of Minnesota School of Medicine., United States. Electronic address:

Objective: In the presence of inferior myocardial infarction (MI), ST depression (STD) in lead I has been claimed to be accurate for diagnosis of right ventricular (RV) MI. We sought to evaluate this claim and also whether ST Elevation (STE) in lead V1 would be helpful, with or without STD in V2.

Methods: Retrospective study of consecutive inferior STEMI, comparing ECGs of patients with, to those without, RVMI, as determined by angiographic coronary occlusion proximal to the RV marginal branch. Read More

Int Heart J 2018 ;59(6):1491

We are pleased to announce that the following 2 articles have been selected for the the UEDA Heart Awards for the Year 2018. First PlaceRole of Right Ventricular Dysfunction and Diabetes Mellitus in N-terminal pro-B-type Natriuretic Peptide Response of Patients With Severe Mitral Regurgitation and Heart Failure After MitraClipHidehiro Kaneko, Michael Neuss, Jens Weissenborn, Christian ButterInt Heart J 2017; 58 (2): 225-231. Second PlaceNanoparticle-Mediated Delivery of Pitavastatin to Monocytes/Macrophages Inhibits Left Ventricular Remodeling After Acute Myocardial Infarction by Inhibiting Monocyte-Mediated InflammationYajing Mao, Jun-ichiro Koga, Masaki Tokutome, Tetsuya Matoba, Gentaro Ikeda, Kaku Nakano, Kensuke EgashiraInt Heart J 2017; 58 (4): 615-623. Read More

Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2018 Nov 11;22(6):989-1005. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Departments of Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Radiology, University Hospital Southampton, United Kingdom; Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Southampton, United Kingdom.

Fetal stroke is an important cause of cerebral palsy but is difficult to diagnose unless imaging is undertaken in pregnancies at risk because of known maternal or fetal disorders. Fetal ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging may show haemorrhage or ischaemic lesions including multicystic encephalomalacia and focal porencephaly. Serial imaging has shown the development of malformations including schizencephaly and polymicrogyra after ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke. Read More

Int Heart J 2019 Jan 20;60(1):151-158. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Mie University Research Center for Matrix Biology.

Inflammation after myocardial infarction (MI) may be a major factor influencing ventricular remodeling, leading to congestive heart failure and arrhythmia. Therefore, inflammation in the heart needs to be monitored. Tenascin-C (TNC) is an extracellular matrix molecule not normally expressed, but it is strongly upregulated when associated with active inflammation. Read More

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2018 Nov 20. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Greenberg Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY, 10021, USA.

Ischemic mitral regurgitation (iMR) augments risk for right ventricular dysfunction (RV). Right and left ventricular (LV) function are linked via common coronary perfusion, but data is lacking regarding impact of LV ischemia and infarct transmurality-as well as altered preload and afterload-on RV performance. In this prospective multimodality imaging study, stress CMR and 3-dimensional echo (3D-echo) were performed concomitantly in patients with iMR. Read More

Hellenic J Cardiol 2018 Nov 15. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Second Department of Cardiology, Attikon Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2018 Oct 10. Epub 2018 Oct 10.

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif. Electronic address:

Objective: Papillary muscle (PM) displacement contributes to ischemic/functional mitral regurgitation (IMR/FMR). The displaced PMs pull the mitral leaflets into the left ventricle (ie, toward the apex) thus hampering leaflet coaptation. Intuitively apical leaflet tethering results from apical PM displacement. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2018 Nov 13. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York. Electronic address:

Background: Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy has been the standard of care for selected patients with advance heart failure. Even though considerable strides have been achieved with the introduction of the newest centrifugal pump, therapy is still burdened with significant perioperative complications. Smaller devices, along with improved techniques and instruments, have encouraged the adoption of minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) techniques for LVAD implantation to improve perioperative outcomes. Read More

Case Rep Emerg Med 2018 23;2018:1948151. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Department of Cardiology, Tokyo Metropolitan Hiroo Hospital, 10-34-2, Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 153-0013, Japan.

High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is crucial for survival from cardiac arrest. However, various chest compression-associated injuries have been reported. Internal mammary artery (IMA) injury is one of the rare complications after CPR, and most of cases include rib and sternum fractures. Read More

Nucl Med Commun 2019 Feb;40(2):115-123

Departments of Nuclear Medicine.

Background: Left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony (LVMD) is closely associated with left ventricular dysfunction and poor prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, whether mechanical dyssynchrony is present in the noninfarcted areas remains controversial. This research aimed to quantitatively evaluate the global and regional mechanical dyssynchrony early after AMI by phase analysis of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) gated myocardial perfusion imaging (GMPI) and to further explore the related influencing factors. Read More

Korean Circ J 2018 Dec;48(12):1081-1096

Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

We reviewed the anatomical characteristics of the conduction system in the ventricles of human and ungulate hearts and then raised some questions to be answered by clinical and anatomical studies in the future. The ventricular conduction system is a 3-dimensional structure as compared to the 2-dimensional character of the atrial conduction system. The proximal part consisting of the atrioventricular node, the bundle of His and fascicles are groups of conducting cells surrounded by fibrous connective tissue so as to insulate from the underlying myocardium. Read More

J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2018 Nov 6. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

Section of Electrophysiology, Division of Cardiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yongan Road, Xi-cheng District, Beijing, 100050, China.

Purpose: Right ventricular pacing threshold (RVPT) may rise over time accompanied by the increased use of implantable cardiac pacemakers. However, risk factors for permanent RVPT increase are not fully clarified in patients without definite lead fracture and dislodgment. We aimed to evaluate the long-term performance of RV pacing leads and identify risk factors associated with the occurrence of permanent RVPT increase in this population. Read More