Can the efficacy of a medical treatment be predicted based on the type of idiopathic premature ventricular contraction?

Background: Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are common arrhythmias with diverse clinical implications. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of medical treatments using various clinical, imaging, and electrocardiographic parameters in patients with idiopathic PVCs.

Methods: A total of 1051 patients with idiopathic PVCs were retrospectively analyzed.

Cost-effectiveness and safety of continuous pulse oximetry for management of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea in bariatric surgery: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: Undetected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent in patients undergoing bariatric surgery and increases perioperative risks. Screening for OSA using preoperative polygraphy (PG) with subsequent continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is costly and time-consuming. Postoperative continuous pulse oximetry (CPOX) is less invasive, and is hypothesized to be a safe and cost-effective alternative.

Sex-specific cardiac magnetic resonance pulmonary capillary wedge pressure.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction disproportionately affects women. There are no validated sex-specific tools for HF diagnosis despite widely reported differences in cardiac structure. This study investigates whether sex, as assigned at birth, influences cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) assessment of left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP), a hallmark of HF agnostic to ejection fraction.

European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging survey on cardiovascular multimodality imaging in acute myocarditis.

Aims: To assess the current role of cardiac imaging in the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of patients with acute myocarditis (AM) through a European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging survey.

Methods And Results: A total of 412 volunteers from 74 countries responded to the survey. Most participants worked in tertiary centres (56%).

European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging survey on the evaluation of mitral regurgitation.

Aims: To evaluate the diagnosis and imaging of patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) and the management in routine clinical practice across Europe, the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging Scientific Initiatives Committee performed a survey across European centres. In particular, the routine use of echocardiography, advanced imaging modalities, heart valve clinics, and heart valve teams was explored.

Methods And Results: A total of 61 responders, mainly from tertiary centres or university hospitals, from 26 different countries responded to the survey, which consisted of 22 questions.

Preoperative Weight Gain Is Not Related to Lower Postoperative Weight Loss, But to Lower Total Weight Loss up to 3 Years After Bariatric-Metabolic Surgery.

Introduction: Weight loss prior to bariatric-metabolic surgery (BMS) is recommended in most bariatric centers. However, there is limited high-quality evidence to support mandatory preoperative weight loss. In this study, we will evaluate whether weight gain prior to primary BMS is related to lower postoperative weight loss.

The diagnostic performance of quantitative flow ratio and perfusion imaging in patients with prior coronary artery disease.

Aims: In chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) patients with documented coronary artery disease (CAD), ischaemia detection by myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and an invasive approach are viable diagnostic strategies. We compared the diagnostic performance of quantitative flow ratio (QFR) with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in patients with prior CAD [previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and/or myocardial infarction (MI)].

Methods And Results: This PACIFIC-2 sub-study evaluated 189 CCS patients with prior CAD for inclusion.

Left atrial sphericity in relation to atrial strain and strain rate in atrial fibrillation patients.

Purpose: Left atrial (LA) sphericity is a novel, geometry-based parameter that has been used to visualize and quantify LA geometrical remodeling in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study examined the association between LA sphericity, and LA longitudinal strain and strain rate measured by feature-tracking in AF patients.

Methods: 128 AF patients who underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in sinus rhythm prior to their pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) procedure were retrospectively analyzed.

Oral ω-3 PUFA supplementation modulates inflammation in adipose tissue depots in morbidly obese women: A randomized trial.

Objectives: Obesity is characterized by local and systemic low-grade inflammatory responses. Adipose tissue macrophages (ATM) play decisive roles in inflammation, insulin signaling, and various metabolic dysfunctions. Diets enriched with ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been shown to improve health and mitigate pathologic conditions.

The Impact of Reoperations Following Bariatric Surgery on Mid-term Outcomes.

Purpose: With the obesity epidemic, the number of bariatric procedures is increasing, and although considered relatively safe, major postoperative complications still occur. In cancer surgery, major complications such as reoperations have been associated with deteriorated mid/long-term outcomes. In obesity surgery, the effects of reoperations on postoperative weight loss and associated comorbidities remain unclear.

Left atrial strain is associated with arrhythmia recurrence after atrial fibrillation ablation: Cardiac magnetic resonance rapid strain vs. feature tracking strain.

Purpose: The present study assesses different left atrial (LA) strain approaches in relation to atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after ablation and compares LA feature tracking (FT) strain to novel rapid LA strain approaches in AF patients.

Methods: This retrospective single-center study comprised of 110 prospectively recruited AF patients who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in sinus rhythm prior to their first pulmonary vein isolation ablation. LA rapid strain (long axis strain and atrioventricular (AV)-junction strain), LA FT strain, and LA volumes were derived from 2-chamber and 4-chamber cine images.

Effect of ticagrelor and prasugrel on remote myocardial inflammation in patients with acute myocardial infarction with ST-elevation: a CMR T1 and T2 mapping study.

Purpose: Acute myocardial ischaemia triggers a non-specific inflammatory response of remote myocardium through the increase of plasma concentrations of acute-phase proteins, which causes myocardial oedema. As ticagrelor has been shown to significantly decrease circulating levels of several pro-inflammatory cytokines in patients after acute myocardial infarction with ST-elevation (STEMI), we sought to investigate a potential suppressive effect of ticagrelor over prasugrel on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) T1 and T2 values in remote myocardium.

Methods: Ninety STEMI patients were prospectively included and randomised to receive either ticagrelor or prasugrel maintenance treatment after successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

The Dynamic Relationship Between Invasive Microvascular Function and Microvascular Injury Indicators, and Their Association With Left Ventricular Function and Infarct Size at 1-Month After Reperfused ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background: The invasive microvascular function indices, coronary flow reserve (CFR) and the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR), exhibit a dynamic pattern after ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. The effects of microvascular injury on the evolution of the microvascular function and the prognostic significance of the evolution of microvascular function are unknown. We investigated the relationship between the temporal changes of CFR and IMR, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance-derived microvascular injury characteristics in reperfused ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction patients, and their association with 1-month left ventricular ejection fraction and infarct size (IS).

Effects of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells and/or sildenafil citrate in experimental colon anastomosis model.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the healing effects of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSC) and sildenafil citrate alone or in combination of colon anastomosis experimental model.

Methods: A total of 40 female Wistar rats were randomly distributed to four groups: Control (without any intervention post-anas-tomosis), stem cell (AT-MSC injection on the anastomosis site), SIL (oral gavage of 10 mg/kg sildenafil citrate), and stem cell + SIL (AT-MSC injection and oral administration of sildenafil citrate) groups. Rats were euthanized 5 days post-anastomosis.

EACVI survey on the multi-modality imaging assessment of the right heart.

Aims: The European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) Scientific Initiatives Committee performed a global survey to evaluate the use of different cardiac imaging modalities for the evaluation of the right heart.

Methods And Results: Delegates from 250 EACVI registered centres were invited to participate in a survey which was also advertised on the EACVI bulletin and on social media. One hundred and thirty-eight respondents from 46 countries across the world responded to the survey.

Association of left ventricular flow energetics with remodeling after myocardial infarction: New hemodynamic insights for left ventricular remodeling.

Background: Myocardial infarction leads to complex changes in left ventricular (LV) hemodynamics. It remains unknown how four-dimensional acute changes in LV-cavity blood flow kinetic energy affects LV-remodeling.

Methods And Results: In total, 69 revascularised ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients were enrolled.

Risk factors for postoperative bleeding in bariatric surgery.

Background: Postoperative bleeding remains a relatively common complication following bariatric surgery and may lead to morbidity and even mortality.

Objective: To develop a prediction model to identify patients at risk for postoperative bleeding.

Setting: Rode Kruis Ziekenhuis, Beverwijk, the Netherlands.

Functional stress imaging to predict abnormal coronary fractional flow reserve: the PACIFIC 2 study.

Aims: The diagnostic performance of non-invasive imaging in patients with prior coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been tested in prospective head-to-head comparative studies. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of qualitative single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), quantitative positron emission tomography (PET), and qualitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with a prior myocardial infarction (MI) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods And Results: In this prospective clinical study, all patients with prior MI and/or PCI and new symptoms of ischaemic CAD underwent 99mTc-tetrofosmin SPECT, [15O]H2O PET, and MRI, followed by invasive coronary angiography with fractional flow reserve (FFR) in all coronary arteries.

Mitral regurgitation quantified by CMR 4D-flow is associated with microvascular obstruction post reperfused ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Objectives: Mitral regurgitation (MR) and microvascular obstruction (MVO) are common complications of myocardial infarction (MI). This study aimed to investigate the association between MR in ST-elevation MI (STEMI) subjects with MVO post-reperfusion. STEMI subjects undergoing primary percutaneous intervention were enrolled.

The association between patient attendance to a perioperative group-based lifestyle program and weight loss after bariatric surgery.

Background: To enable maximal and sustainable weight loss after bariatric surgery, bariatric lifestyle programs through multidisciplinary support are advised.

Objectives: To assess the association between patient attendance to a perioperative group-based bariatric lifestyle program (GBLP) and weight loss up to 48 months postoperatively.

Setting: A multicenter retrospective cohort study in the Netherlands.

Left ventricular four-dimensional blood flow distribution, energetics, and vorticity in chronic myocardial infarction patients with/without left ventricular thrombus.

Background: Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) formation is a frequent and serious complication of myocardial infarction (MI). How global LV flow characteristics are related to this phenomenon is yet uncertain. In this study, we investigated LV flow differences using 4D flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) between chronic MI patients with LVT [MI-LVT(+)] and without LVT [MI-LVT(-)], and healthy controls.