Metabolism 2017 Sep 20. Epub 2017 Sep 20.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan; Education and Research Support Center, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan. Electronic address:

Background: Myocardial contractile dysfunction in sepsis has been attributed mainly to increased inflammatory cytokines, insulin resistance, and impaired oxidative phosphorylation of fatty acids (FAs). However, precise molecular mechanisms underlying the cardiac dysfunction in sepsis remain to be determined. We previously reported major shift in myocardial energy substrates from FAs to glucose, and increased hepatic ketogenesis in mice lacking fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) and FABP5 (DKO). Read More

Ann Nucl Med 2017 Sep 22. Epub 2017 Sep 22.

Siemens Medical Solution USA, Inc., Molecular Imaging, Hoffman Estates, IL, USA.

IQ·SPECT (Siemens Medical Solutions) is a solution for high-sensitivity and short-time acquisition imaging of the heart for a variable angle general purpose gamma camera. It consists of a multi-focal collimator, a cardio-centric orbit and advanced iterative reconstruction, modeling the image formation physics accurately. The multi-focal collimator enables distance-dependent enlargement of the center region while avoiding truncation at the edges. Read More

Am Heart J 2017 Oct 8;192:26-37. Epub 2017 Jul 8.

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Baim Institute for Clinical Research, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address:

Objectives: The objectives were to reassess use of amino-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations for diagnosis and prognosis of acute heart failure (HF) in patients with acute dyspnea.

Background: NT-proBNP facilitates diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment in patients with suspected or proven acute HF. As demographics of such patients are changing, previous diagnostic NT-proBNP thresholds may need updating. Read More

Eur Heart J 2017 Sep;38(35):2671-2679

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

Aims: An anti-angiogenic cleaved prolactin fragment is considered causal for peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). Experimental and first clinical observations suggested beneficial effects of the prolactin release inhibitor bromocriptine in PPCM.

Methods And Results: In this multicentre trial, 63 PPCM patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35% were randomly assigned to short-term (1W: bromocriptine, 2. Read More

Ultrasonography 2017 Apr 14. Epub 2017 Apr 14.

Department of Radiology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess vascular changes and blood flow abnormalities in the common carotid arteries of patients with head and neck cancers after external radiotherapy, using color Doppler ultrasonography.

Methods: We studied 24 patients treated with external radiotherapy for various head and neck cancers. In order to study the acute effects of irradiation on common carotid blood flow and arterial diameter changes, color Doppler ultrasonography parameters such as peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, mean velocity, systolic-to-diastolic velocity (S/D) ratio, pulsatility index (PI), resistive index (RI), and instantaneous diameter changes were evaluated before and after external radiotherapy. Read More

J Thorac Dis 2017 Aug;9(8):E723-E726

Department of Morfology, Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Section of General and Thoracic Surgery, Sant'Anna Hospital, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.

A partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) is a rare congenital defect in which at least one pulmonary vein doesn't drain into the left atrium but into a systemic vein or even into the right atrium, causing a left-to right shunt. PAPVC with a small amount of shunt are usually asymptomatic, and can not be detected during lifetime. Nevertheless, if those patients undergo a major lung resection, the surgical procedure could precipitate right heart failure if this anomalous shunt remains uncorrected. Read More

J Cardiovasc Magn Reson 2017 Sep 21;19(1):71. Epub 2017 Sep 21.

Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, D-50937, Cologne, Germany.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic potential of a novel cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) based multiparametric imaging approach in suspected myocarditis and to compare it to traditional Lake Louise criteria (LLC).

Methods: CMR data from 67 patients with suspected acute myocarditis were retrospectively analyzed. Seventeen age- and gender-matched healthy subjects served as control. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2017 27;2017:3820191. Epub 2017 Aug 27.

Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

Right ventricle (RV) is considered a neglected chamber in cardiology and knowledge about its role in cardiac function was mostly focused on ventricular interdependence. However, progress on the understanding of myocardium diseases primarily involving the RV led to a better comprehension of its role in health and disease. In Chagas disease (CD), there is direct evidence from both basic and clinical research of profound structural RV abnormalities. Read More

Exp Ther Med 2017 Oct 4;14(4):3088-3092. Epub 2017 Aug 4.

Department of Ultrasonography, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518033, P.R. China.

This study examined the application of 64-slice spiral double-low computed tomography (CT) to evaluate the degree of coronary artery stenosis. We examined 45 patients with coronary heart disease by 64-slice spiral double-low CT and coronary angiography (CAG) to determine CT accuracy in evaluating coronary artery stenosis. Imaging analysis from 64-slice spiral double-low CT identified 199 segments with coronary stenosis from 45 patients, including 46 segments with mild stenosis, 38 with moderate stenosis and 115 with severe stenosis or artery occlusion. Read More

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2017 5;8:222. Epub 2017 Sep 5.

Department of Cardiology and Internal Diseases, Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland.

Objective: Novel echocardiographic techniques, such as speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) and tissue Doppler imaging, are sensitive tools for assessing left ventricular (LV) performance. LV global longitudinal strain (GLS), assessed by STE, is a sensitive marker of myocardial systolic function. Cardiovascular complications in patients with Cushing's disease (CD) determine a higher mortality than that in an age- and gender-matched population. Read More

Anesth Essays Res 2017 Jul-Sep;11(3):630-635

Department of Anaesthesiology, Neuroanesthesia Division, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.

Context: The vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VGAM) is a rare arteriovenous malformation where a dilated median prosencephalic vein provides a low-resistance conduit for intracerebral blood flow resulting in high-output cardiac failure, severe pulmonary hypertension, with or without central nervous system symptoms secondary to hydrocephalus, in the neonatal and pediatric population.

Aim: This study aims to analysis of the anesthetic management of this unique subset of patients with VGAM.

Settings And Design: This was a retrospective analysis of case series of VGAM patients admitted between January 2005 and June 2016 in our Institute. Read More

Am Fam Physician 2017 Sep;96(5):293-299

National Capital Consortium Family Medicine Residency, Fort Belvoir, VA, USA.

Exercise stress testing is a validated diagnostic test for coronary artery disease in symptomatic patients, and is used in the evaluation of patients with known cardiac disease. Testing of asymptomatic patients is generally not indicated. It may be performed in select deconditioned adults before starting a vigorous exercise program, but no studies have compared outcomes from preexercise testing vs. Read More

Balkan J Med Genet 2017 Jun 30;20(1):91-94. Epub 2017 Jun 30.

Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.

Sirenomelia, also known as "mermaid malformation/syndrome," is a rare, serious congenital anomaly characterized by variable degrees of fusion of the lower limbs and associated with severe malformations of vertebral, genitourinary, cardiovascular system and single umbilical artery. The first pregnancy of a 25-year-old woman resulted in one twin born by Cesarian section at 32 weeks' gestation, who was referred to our hospital with cyanosis, a congenital anomaly and respiratory distress. On physical examination, there was no urogenital region and anal fissure and gender was indeterminate. Read More

Circ J 2017 Sep 16. Epub 2017 Sep 16.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine.

Background: The 4th heart sound (S4) is commonly heard in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The 3rd heart sound (S3) is also audible in HCM patients regardless of the presence or absence of heart failure. These extra heart sounds may be associated with myocardial fibrosis because myocardial fibrosis has been suggested to affect left ventricular compliance. Read More

Clin Chem 2017 Sep 18. Epub 2017 Sep 18.

Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Background: Most patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergo noninvasive cardiac testing with a low diagnostic yield. We determined whether a combination of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) and cardiovascular risk factors might improve selection of patients for cardiac testing.

Methods: We included patients from the Rule Out Myocardial Infarction/Ischemia Using Computer Assisted Tomography (ROMICAT) I and II trials who presented to the ED with acute chest pain and were referred for cardiac testing. Read More

Liver Int 2017 Sep 16. Epub 2017 Sep 16.

Gastro Unit, Medical Division, Hvidovre Hospital, Hvidovre Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension often develop complications from a variety of organ systems leading to a multiple organ failure. The combination of liver failure and portal hypertension result in a hyperdynamic circulatory state partly owing to simultaneous splanchnic and peripheral arterial vasodilatation. Increases in circulatory vasodilators are believed to be due to portosystemic shunting and bacterial translocation leading to redistribution of the blood volume with central hypovolemia. Read More

J Zoo Wildl Med 2017 Sep;48(3):851-858

In 2015, three psittacines were presented within 30 days, each with differing clinical signs and patient histories. A 13-yr-old male eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus) was presented for weakness, depression, and acute anorexia. On presentation it was determined to have a heart murmur, severely elevated white blood cell count (93. Read More

Ann Acad Med Singapore 2017 Aug;46(8):310-316

Emergency Medicine Department, National University Hospital, Singapore.

Introduction: Ultrasonographic evaluation of patients in cardiac arrest is currently not protocolised in the advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) algorithm. Potentially reversible causes may be identified using bedside ultrasonography that is ubiquitous in most emergency departments (EDs). This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of sonographically detectable reversible causes of cardiac arrest by incorporating an ultrasonography protocol into the ACLS algorithm. Read More

Thromb Res 2017 Sep 9. Epub 2017 Sep 9.

Division of Pneumology, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Pulmonary Hypertension Program, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Geneva University, Faculty of Medicine, Switzerland. Electronic address:

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) should be suspected in patients presenting persistent dyspnea three months after a pulmonary embolism or in patients presenting with acute pulmonary embolism and suggestive images on the CT-scan. For these patients, a specific diagnostic work-up should be performed. First step consists of the ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scan which is a good screening test due to its high sensitivity and high negative predictive value. Read More

J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2017 Sep 13. Epub 2017 Sep 13.

Department of Neurology, the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. Electronic address:

Background: Despite anticoagulation therapy, ischemic stroke risk in atrial fibrillation (AF) remains substantial. We hypothesize that left atrial enlargement (LAE) is more prevalent in AF patients admitted with ischemic stroke who are therapeutic, as opposed to nontherapeutic, on anticoagulation.

Methods: We included consecutive patients with AF admitted with ischemic stroke between April 1, 2015, and December 31, 2016. Read More

JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2017 Sep 9. Epub 2017 Sep 9.

West Virginia University Heart & Vascular Institute at West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia. Electronic address:

Objectives: This study sought to determine whether mobile health (mHealth) device assessments used as clinical decision support tools at the point-of-care can reduce the time to treatment and improve long-term outcomes among patients with rheumatic and structural heart diseases (SHD).

Background: Newly developed smartphone-connected mHealth devices represent promising methods to diagnose common diseases in resource-limited areas; however, the impact of technology-based care on long-term outcomes has not been rigorously evaluated.

Methods: A total of 253 patients with SHD were randomized to an initial diagnostic assessment with wireless devices in mHealth clinics (n = 139) or to standard-care (n = 114) in India. Read More

JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2017 Sep 9. Epub 2017 Sep 9.

Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Electronic address:

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the incidence, associated findings, and natural history of effusive-constrictive pericarditis (ECP) after pericardiocentesis.

Background: ECP is characterized by the coexistence of tense pericardial effusion and constriction of the heart by the visceral pericardium. Echocardiography is currently the main diagnostic tool in the assessment of pericardial disease, but limited data have been published on the incidence and prognosis of ECP diagnosed by echo-Doppler. Read More

JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2017 Sep 9. Epub 2017 Sep 9.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio; Department of Nuclear Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the regional uptake of technetium 99m-pyrophosphate (TcPYP) in transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR) and its association with mortality.

Background: TcPYP nuclear scintigraphy is a diagnostic and prognostic tool in ATTR. Echocardiography has identified a pattern of regional variation in longitudinal strain (LS) with a gradient of improved strain from base to apex in ATTR. Read More

JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2017 Sep 9. Epub 2017 Sep 9.

Department of Cardiology, Hospital Unit West, Herning, Denmark.

Objectives: This study sought to perform a prospective head-to-head comparison of the predictive value of clinical risk factors and a variety of cardiac imaging modalities including coronary artery calcium score (CACS), coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and invasive coronary angiography (ICA) on major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and all-cause mortality in kidney transplantation candidates.

Background: Current guidelines recommend screening for coronary artery disease in kidney transplantation candidates. Furthermore, noninvasive stress imaging is recommended in current guidelines, despite its low diagnostic accuracy and uncertain prognostic value. Read More

J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr 2017 Sep 5. Epub 2017 Sep 5.

Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address:

Background: The objective of this work was to support three-dimensional fusion of coronary CT angiography (coronary CTA) and CT myocardial perfusion (CT-Perf) data visualizing coronary artery stenoses and corresponding stress-induced myocardial perfusion deficits for diagnostics of coronary artery disease.

Methods: Twelve patients undergoing coronary CTA/CT-Perf after heart transplantation were included (56 ± 12 years, all males). CT image quality was rated. Read More

J Ultrasound Med 2017 Sep 15. Epub 2017 Sep 15.

Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Target Organ Injury, Pingjin Hospital Heart Center, Logistics University of the People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin, China.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate vascular function, including arterial resistance and endothelial function, by high-resolution sonography in an Nω -nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (l-NAME)-induced mouse model of preeclampsia-like symptoms.

Methods: Pregnant mice were subcutaneously injected with a saline solution (control; n = 10) or l-NAME (n = 10) between the 7th and 18th days of gestation. The resistive index and pulsatility index (RI and PI, indicators of arterial resistance) of the uteroplacental, umbilical, femoral, and common carotid arteries and the flow-mediated dilatation (index of endothelial function) of the femoral artery were measured by high-frequency sonography in both groups. Read More

Sci Rep 2017 Sep 14;7(1):11557. Epub 2017 Sep 14.

Functional Imaging Unit, Center of Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.

In the present study, we investigated whether inter-individual differences in vagally-mediated cardiac activity (high frequency heart rate variability, HF-HRV) would be associated with inter-individual differences in mind-reading, a specific aspect of social cognition. To this end, we recorded resting state HF-HRV in 49 individuals before they completed the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test, a test that required the identification of mental states on basis of subtle facial cues. As expected, inter-individual differences in HF-HRV were associated with inter-individual differences in mental state identification: Individuals with high HF-HRV were more accurate in the identification of positive but not negative states than individuals with low HF-HRV. Read More

Circ Res 2017 Sep;121(7):819-837

From the Division of Hematology (E.M., M.A.G.) and Department of Cardiovascular Medicine (L.A.B.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is characterized by nondilated left or right ventricle with diastolic dysfunction. The restrictive cardiomyopathies are a heterogenous group of myocardial diseases that vary according to pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation and criteria, treatment, and prognosis. In this review, an overview of RCMs will be presented followed by a detailed discussion on 3 major causes of RCM, for which tailored interventions are available: cardiac amyloidosis, cardiac sarcoidosis, and cardiac hemochromatosis. Read More

Physiol Rep 2017 Sep;5(17)

Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

An association between cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cardiac output (CO) has been established in young healthy subjects. As of yet it is unclear how this association evolves over the life span. To that purpose, we continuously recorded mean arterial pressure (MAP; finger plethysmography), CO (pulse contour; CO-trek), mean blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MCAV; transcranial Doppler ultrasonography), and end-tidal CO2 partial pressure (PetCO2) in healthy young (19-27 years), middle-aged (51-61 years), and elderly subjects (70-79 years). Read More

Cardiovasc J Afr 2017 Jul/Aug;28(4):229-234

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, USA; Department of Radiology, Columbia University Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, USA.

Objective: While nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) offers many benefits to patients with known or suspected cardiovascular disease, concerns exist regarding radiation-associated health effects. Little is known regarding MPI practice in Africa. We sought to characterise radiation doses and the use of MPI best practices that could minimise radiation in African nuclear cardiology laboratories, and compare these to practice worldwide. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2017 Sep;96(37):e8066

The Cardiac Arrhythmia Center, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Background: This study aimed to investigate whether repetitive optimizing left ventricular pacing configurations (LVPCs) with quadripolar leads (QUAD) can improve response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Methods: Fifty-two eligible patients were enrolled and 1:1 randomized to either the quadripolar LV leads (QUAD) group or the conventional bipolar leads (CONV) group. In the QUAD group, optimization of LVPC was performed for all patients before discharge and for nonresponders at 3 months follow-up. Read More

Clin Respir J 2017 Sep 14. Epub 2017 Sep 14.

Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

Introduction: Tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR) is a frequent finding in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, its prognostic significance and relation to PAH, while suspected, are poorly understood. We assessed 727 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed PAH who underwent transthoracic echocardiographic evaluation of tricuspid valve function. Read More

Pan Afr Med J 2017 14;27:201. Epub 2017 Jul 14.

University of Ghana School of Medicine and Dentistry, Ghana.

Introduction: The cardio-thoracic ratio (CTR) and the transverse cardiac diameter (TCD) on Plain chest radiography are the two parameters commonly used to diagnose cardiomegaly and heart disease. A CTR of greater than 50% on a PA film is abnormal and normally indicates cardiac or pericardial disease condition, whiles an increase of TCD from 1.5 to 2cm on two consecutive radiographs, taken at short interval, suggests possible cardiac pathology. Read More

Eur Heart J 2017 Sep;38(33):2547-2555

Heart Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio 70029, Finland.

Aims: We evaluated for the first time the effects of angiogenic and lymphangiogenic AdVEGF-DΔNΔC gene therapy in patients with refractory angina.

Methods And Results: Thirty patients were randomized to AdVEGF-DΔNΔC (AdVEGF-D) or placebo (control) groups. Electromechanical NOGA mapping and radiowater PET were used to identify hibernating viable myocardium where treatment was targeted. Read More

Oncotarget 2017 Aug 6;8(33):55094-55103. Epub 2017 Jul 6.

Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.

Radioligand therapy (RLT) with Lu-177-labeled PSMA-ligands is a new therapy option for prostate cancer. Biodistribution in normal tissues is of interest for therapy planning. We evaluated if the biodistribution of Ga-68-PSMA-11 is influenced by tumor load. Read More

Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther 2017 Sep 19:1-15. Epub 2017 Sep 19.

a Second Department of Cardiology , University Hospital of Ioannina , Ioannina , Greece.

Introduction: Hemodynamic indices derived from measurements with the pressure wire (primarily fractional flow reserve [FFR]) have been established as a reliable tool for assessing coronary stenoses and improving clinical decision making. However, the use of the pressure wire constitutes a hurdle for the universal adoption of physiology-guided patient management. Technological advancements have enabled the large-scale application of blood flow simulation (computational fluid dynamics [CFD]) to medical imaging, thereby enabling the virtual assessment of coronary physiology. Read More

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2017 Sep 13. Epub 2017 Sep 13.

Maryland Arrhythmia and Cardiology Imaging Group (MACIG), University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD.

Introduction: Visualization of left atrial (LA) anatomy using image integration modules has been associated with decreased radiation exposure and improved procedural outcome when used for guidance of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. We evaluated the CARTOSEG™ CT Segmentation Module (Biosense Webster, Inc.) that offers a new CT-specific semi-automatic reconstruction of the atrial endocardium. Read More

Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2017 Sep;10(9)

From the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital (A.I., D.S.D., G.P.B., A.M., A.A., J.H., S.A.K., A.G., T.J.S., J.F.H.); Department of Statistical Sciences, NewYork-Presbyterian Cornell University, Ithaca (W.M.B.); and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC (I.K.).

Background: Presence of prominent left ventricular trabeculation satisfying criteria for left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) on routine cardiac magnetic resonance examination is frequently encountered; however, the clinical and prognostic significance of these findings remain elusive. This registry aimed to assess LVNC prevalence by 4 current criteria and to prospectively evaluate an association between diagnosis of LVNC by these criteria and adverse events.

Methods And Results: There were 700 patients referred for cardiac magnetic resonance: 42% were women, median age was 70 years (range, 45-71 years), mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 51% (±17%), and 32% had late gadolinium enhancement on cardiac magnetic resonance. Read More

J Am Coll Radiol 2017 Sep 9. Epub 2017 Sep 9.

Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.

Importance: Abundant data now demonstrate safe use of MRI for patients with non-MR conditional cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). However, CMS does not currently reimburse these examinations.

Objective: Determine whether differences in reimbursement between commercial insurance carriers and CMS are impacting the completion rates of MRI examinations ordered in patients with non-MR conditional CIEDs. Read More

Sleep Med 2017 Sep 24;37:32-37. Epub 2017 Jun 24.

Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Seinäjoki Central Hospital, Seinäjoki, Finland; Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.

Background: Age is a risk factor of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It has been shown that OSA progresses over time, although conflicting results have been reported. However, the effect of age on the severity of OSA and individual obstruction events has not been investigated within different OSA severity categories by taking the most prominent confounding factors (i. Read More

Acta Radiol 2017 Jan 1:284185117732097. Epub 2017 Jan 1.

3 Department of Radiology, Hallym Sacred Heart Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.

Background Shear wave elastography (SWE) using a region of interest (ROI) can demonstrate the quantitative elasticity of breast lesions. Purpose To prospectively evaluate the impact of two different ROI sizes on the diagnostic performance of SWE for differentiating benign and malignant breast lesions. Material and Methods A total of 154 breast lesions were included. Read More

Echocardiography 2017 Sep 12. Epub 2017 Sep 12.

Jefferson Radiology Associates, West Jefferson Medical Center, Marrero, LA, USA.

Identification of a hiatal hernia by computed tomography (CT) scanning, and particularly with axial imaging from a coronary artery calcium score exam, is often subjective. There are several CT features that are diagnostic or at least suggestive of a hiatal hernia. As a hiatal hernia may be the etiology of a chest pain syndrome, it is important to be aware of CT findings suggestive of such. Read More

Intensive Care Med Exp 2017 Sep 11;5(1):42. Epub 2017 Sep 11.

Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.

Background: Pleural effusion (PLE) may lead to low blood pressure and reduced cardiac output. Low blood pressure and reduced cardiac output are often treated with fluid loading and vasopressors. This study aimed to determine the impact of fluid loading and norepinephrine infusion on physiologic determinants of cardiac function obtained by ultrasonography during PLE. Read More

Curr Treat Options Cardiovasc Med 2017 Sep 11;19(9):74. Epub 2017 Sep 11.

The Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1030, New York, NY, 10029-6574, USA.

Opinion Statement: In the United States, valvular heart disease (VHD) has a prevalence of 2.5%, most commonly presenting as aortic stenosis (AS) or mitral valve regurgitation (MR) and increasingly observed to be of a degenerative etiology. Women frequently have latent symptoms despite significant disease, and it is therefore pertinent to consider both clinical symptoms and imaging findings for decision-making on treatment. Read More

Eur Radiol 2017 Sep 11. Epub 2017 Sep 11.

Department of Radiology, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, 537-3, Iguchi, Nasushiobara, Tochigi, 329-2763, Japan.

Objectives: To directly investigate the rapid respiratory effect of gadoxetate disodium in an experimental study using mice.

Methods: After confirming the steady respiratory state under general anaesthesia, eight mice were injected with all test agents in the following order: phosphate-buffered saline (A, control group), 1.25 mmol/kg of gadoteridol (B) or gadopentetate dimeglumine (C), or 0. Read More

Eur Radiol 2017 Sep 11. Epub 2017 Sep 11.

Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Section of Paediatric Radiology, Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.

Objectives: To evaluate differences in myocardial strain between pectus excavatum (PE) patients and healthy subjects (HS) assessed by cardiac MRI using the feature-tracking algorithm.

Methods: Cardiac MRI was performed in 14 PE patients and 14 HS (9:5 male to female in each group; age 11-30 years) using a 3T scanner. Post-examination analysis included manual biventricular contouring with volumetry and ejection fraction measurement by two independent radiologists. Read More

J Med Imaging (Bellingham) 2017 Jul 24;4(3):031211. Epub 2017 Aug 24.

Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Imaging, Division of Cardiovascular Imaging, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

Cardiac imagers worldwide are bracing for increased utilization of cardiac computed tomography (CT) in clinical practice. This expanding opportunity brings along a responsibility to produce diagnostic quality images with optimized radiation dose. The following review aims to address the dose reduction strategies in cardiac CT in light of recent scientific evidence and technical developments. Read More

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2017 13;2017:7483639. Epub 2017 Aug 13.

Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau.

At present, heart disease is the number one cause of death worldwide. Traditionally, heart disease is commonly detected using blood tests, electrocardiogram, cardiac computerized tomography scan, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and so on. However, these traditional diagnostic methods are time consuming and/or invasive. Read More

Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2017 Sep;10(9)

From the Clinical Trials Center, Cardiovascular Research Foundation, New York, NY (M.H.Y, M.M., A.F., M.I., T.M., G.S.M., A.M.); Center for Interventional Vascular Therapy, Division of Cardiology, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY (M.H.Y, A.F., M.I., A.M.); and Division of Cardiology and Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Japan (M.H.Y, K.Y., S.E., T.O., S.S., K.H., K.A., T.Y., N.I., H.A., C.O., M.O.).

Background: Optical coherence tomographic (OCT) morphologies associated with lesion progression are not well studied. The aim of this study was to determine the morphological change for untreated lesion progression using both OCT and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

Methods And Results: We used baseline and 8-month follow-up 3-vessel OCT and IVUS to assess 127 nonculprit lesions (IVUS plaque burden ≥40%) in 45 patients with stable angina after target lesion treatment. Read More

SAGE Open Med Case Rep 2017 25;5:2050313X17728010. Epub 2017 Aug 25.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, School of Medicine, Shinshu University, Matsumoto, Japan.

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease characteristically involves multiple organs including the heart and coronary arteries. Immunoglobulin G4-related coronary artery disease is thought to be due to periarteritis and histopathologically is characterized by marked thickening of the adventitia and periarterial fat with infiltration of immunoglobulin G4-positive plasma cells. Although comprehensive diagnostic criteria require a biopsy for a definite or probable diagnosis of immunoglobulin G4-related disease, obtaining a coronary artery biopsy is difficult and risky. Read More