Ventricular remodeling and hemodynamic changes in heart failure patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy following dapagliflozin initiation.

Background: In heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitors (SGLT-2i) have persistently shown cardiovascular benefits through different trials. However, their impact on ventricular remodeling and cardiac hemodynamics has not been sufficiently studied. This study aimed to study how SGLT-2i initiation affects invasive hemodynamics and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR)-derived ventricular volumes, function, and fraction of the extracellular volume (ECV) in HFrEF patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM).

Prenatal prediction of respiratory distress syndrome by multimodality approach using 3D lung ultrasound, lung-to-liver intensity ratio tissue histogram and pulmonary artery Doppler assessment of fetal lung maturity.

Objective: Studying the correlation of different lung parameters, using three-dimensional ultrasound (3D US) with fetal lung maturity (FLM) to predict the development of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).

Methods: Three-dimensional ultrasound was done to record the fetal lung volume (FLV), fetal lung-to-liver intensity ratio (FLLIR) and the main pulmonary artery (MPA) blood flow parameters; pulsatility index (PI), resistive index (RI) and acceleration time-to-ejection time ratio (At/Et), to 218 women between 32 and 40 weeks gestational age within 24 h from labor.

Results: Of 218 fetuses examined, final analysis was done for 143 fetuses.

NT-proBNP Level Predicts Extent of Myonecrosis and Clinical Adverse Outcomes in Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Pilot Study.

Background And Hypothesis: The initial assessment of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) reflects cardiac damage and is an important prognostic factor in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). N-Terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is released following cardiomyocytes injury. However, the relationship between NT-proBNP levels, myocardial damage and clinical outcomes after STEMI has not been well defined.

Cathelicidin Related Antimicrobial Peptide (CRAMP) Enhances Bone Marrow Cell Retention and Attenuates Cardiac Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (MI) and the ensuing ischemic heart disease are approaching epidemic state. Unfortunately, no definitive therapies are available and human regenerative therapies have conflicting results. Limited stem cell retention following intracoronary administration has reduced the clinical efficacy of this novel therapy.

Prevalence and Prognostic Significance of Left Ventricular Noncompaction in Patients Referred for Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

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.

Right atrial volume by cardiovascular magnetic resonance predicts mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Background: Right Atrial Volume Index (RAVI) measured by echocardiography is an independent predictor of morbidity in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The aim of this study is to evaluate the predictive value of RAVI assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) for all-cause mortality in patients with HFrEF and to assess its additive contribution to the validated Meta-Analysis Global Group in Chronic heart failure (MAGGIC) score.

Methods And Results: We identified 243 patients (mean age 60 ± 15; 33% women) with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35% measured by CMR.

Bioactive Lipids and Circulating Progenitor Cells in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease.

Bone marrow-derived progenitor cells are mobilized into the peripheral blood after acute myocardial injury and in chronic ischemic heart disease. However, the mechanisms responsible for this mobilization are poorly understood. We examined the relationship between plasma levels of bioactive lipids and number of circulating progenitor cells (CPCs) in patients (N = 437) undergoing elective or emergent cardiac catheterization.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Major Cardiovascular Outcomes for Radial Versus Femoral Access in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Objectives: Radial artery access (RA) for left heart catheterization and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) has been demonstrated to be safe and effective. Despite consistent data showing less bleeding complications compared with femoral artery access (FA), it continues to be underused in the United States, particularly in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in whom aggressive anticoagulation and platelet inhibition regimens are needed. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to compare major cardiovascular outcomes and safety endpoints in patients with ACS managed with PCI using radial versus femoral access.

Pharmacological Elevation of Circulating Bioactive Phosphosphingolipids Enhances Myocardial Recovery After Acute Infarction.

Unlabelled: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) triggers mobilization of bone marrow (BM)-derived stem/progenitor cells (BMSPCs) through poorly understood processes. Recently, we postulated a major role for bioactive lipids such as sphingosine-1 phosphate (S1P) in mobilization of BMSPCs into the peripheral blood (PB). We hypothesized that elevating S1P levels after AMI could augment BMSPC mobilization and enhance cardiac recovery after AMI.

A novel role for bioactive lipids in stem cell mobilization during cardiac ischemia: new paradigms in thrombosis: novel mediators and biomarkers.

Despite major advances in pharmacological and reperfusion therapies, regenerating and/or replacing the infarcted myocardial tissue is an enormous challenge and therefore ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Adult bone marrow is home for a variety of hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic stem cells including a small subset of primitive cells that carry a promising regenerative potential. It is now well established that myocardial ischemia (MI) induces mobilization of bone marrow-derived cells including differentiated lineage as well as undifferentiated stem cells.