Feasibility and Diagnostic Value of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging After Acute Ischemic Stroke of Undetermined Origin.

Background And Purpose: Etiology of acute ischemic stroke remains undetermined (cryptogenic) in about 25% of patients after state-of-the-art diagnostic work-up.

Methods: One-hundred and three patients with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-proven acute ischemic stroke of undetermined origin were prospectively enrolled and underwent 3-T cardiac MRI and magnetic resonance angiography of the aortic arch in addition to state-of-the-art diagnostic work-up, including transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). We analyzed the feasibility, diagnostic accuracy, and added value of cardiovascular MRI (cvMRI) compared with TEE for detecting sources of stroke.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy : Delayed occurrence after radiotherapy of breast cancer.

A 74-year-old female patient was referred to our department in 2015 with dyspnea, cough and dysphagia. She had been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the right breast in 1986 and underwent mastectomy. When she presented with a local recurrence in 1988, she was receiving high-voltage radiation therapy.

Long-term prognostic value of restitution slope in patients with ischemic and dilated cardiomyopathies.

Background: An action potential duration (APD) restitution curve with a steep slope ≥1 has been associated with increased susceptibility for malignant ventricular arrhythmias. We aimed to evaluate the "restitution hypothesis" and tested ventricular APD restitution slope as well as effective refractory period (ERP)/APD ratio for long-term prognostic value in patients with ischemic (ICM) or dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Methodology/principal Findings: Monophasic action potentials were recorded in patients with ICM (n = 32) and DCM (n = 42) undergoing routine programmed ventricular stimulation (PVS).

High frequency of Tropheryma whipplei in culture-negative endocarditis.

"Classical" Whipple's disease (cWD) is caused by Tropheryma whipplei and is characterized by arthropathy, weight loss, and diarrhea. T. whipplei infectious endocarditis (TWIE) is rarely reported, either in the context of cWD or as isolated TWIE without signs of systemic infection.

T-wave alternans testing in pacemaker patients: comparison of pacing modes and long-term prognostic relevance.

Background: T-wave alternans (TWA) is a useful method for identifying patients who are at risk for sudden cardiac death. We aimed to determine the effects of different pacing modes on test results and long-term prognostic relevance of TWA in patients following a dual-chamber (DDD) pacemaker implantation.

Methods: Sixty-three patients (mean age 68 ± 13 years) with structural heart disease and recently implanted DDD pacemakers were enrolled.

Utilization of telemedicine by heart disease patients following hospitalization.

NYHA class III and IV chronic heart failure has been established as a potential indication for telemedical care and monitoring already. We conducted a prospective study to assess the utilization of telemedical services by cardiac patients in order to identify further indications. A total of 540 patients (mean age 59 years) with various heart diseases participated for at least 30 days in a home-based telemedicine service programme.

Impact of telemedical care and monitoring on morbidity in mild to moderate chronic heart failure.

Objective: We investigated in a pilot study whether telemedicine is beneficial in mild to moderate chronic heart failure.

Methods: A total of 128 patients with an ejection fraction < or =60% and NYHA class II or III chronic heart failure were evaluated. Thirty-two patients were enrolled prospectively in a staged telemedical service program.

Treatment with ezetimibe plus low-dose atorvastatin compared with higher-dose atorvastatin alone: is sufficient cholesterol-lowering enough to inhibit platelets?

Objectives: We sought to test the platelet inhibitory and anti-inflammatory effects of a higher statin dosage compared with combined treatment with ezetimibe plus a low statin dose.

Background: Reducing the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) with statins induces important pleiotropic effects such as platelet inhibition. An insufficient LDL-C reduction often is treated with ezetimibe, an intestinal cholesterol absorption inhibitor, in combination with a low statin dose.

Brucella endocarditis in prosthetic valves.

Human brucellosis is a multiple organ disease that presents with fever and is most often transmitted via contaminated, unpasteurized goat milk and cheese. In chronic cases, focal complications (eg, spondylitis, neurobrucellosis and endocarditis) are frequently seen. Although the disease may be severely debilitating, the mortality rate is low.

Cardiac arrest and ventricular tachycardia in Japanese-type apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a specific variant of HCM. This disease has been first described in Japan where the prevalence is much higher than in the western world. The prognosis of apical HCM with regard to sudden cardiac death is believed to be better than that of common HCM.

Myocardial viability evaluation using magnetocardiography in patients with coronary artery disease.

Objective: Magnetocardiography (MCG) has been used to risk stratify patients in terms of sudden death or to detect ischemia. We evaluated the potential of this technique to assess myocardial viability in coronary artery disease.

Methods: Fifteen patients aged 36-75 (median, 59) years with stable single-vessel disease (> or =70% diameter stenosis) and corresponding regional wall-motion abnormality underwent (1) echocardiography to evaluate wall motion, (2) Tl dipyridamole single-photon emission computed tomography to document perfusion and (3) quantitative F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography to assess viability in 16 left-ventricular wall segments.