First-in-human: Leaflet laceration with balloon mediated annihilation to prevent coronary obstruction with radiofrequency needle (LLAMACORN) for valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Coronary obstruction (CO) is a potential pitfall for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), especially in valve in valve procedures into degenerated surgical or transcatheter prostheses. Bioprosthetic leaflet modification techniques that incorporate electrosurgery are evolving as the preferred strategy to mitigate the risk of CO in high CO risk settings. The UNICORN method is proposed as a more predictable leaflet modification strategy than the earlier described BASILICA approach, but its proponents have hitherto mandated the use of a balloon-expandable valve (BEV) prosthesis.

2024 CSANZ Position Statement on Indications, Assessment and Monitoring of Structural and Valvular Heart Disease With Transthoracic Echocardiography in Adults.

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the most widely available and utilised imaging modality for the screening, diagnosis, and serial monitoring of all abnormalities related to cardiac structure or function. The primary objectives of this document are to provide (1) a guiding framework for treating clinicians of the acceptable indications for the initial and serial TTE assessments of the commonly encountered cardiovascular conditions in adults, and (2) the minimum required standard for TTE examinations and reporting for imaging service providers. The main areas covered within this Position Statement pertain to the TTE assessment of the left and right ventricles, valvular heart diseases, pericardial diseases, aortic diseases, infective endocarditis, cardiac masses, pulmonary hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases associated with cancer treatments or cardio-oncology.

Third-Generation Transcatheter Aortic Heart Valve with Reverse Parachute Sealing Cuff in Patients with Aortic Valve Disease.

Background: The Navitor (Abbott Inc, IL, USA) transcatheter heart valve is a novel third-generation self-expanding bioprosthesis with specific features to mitigate paravalvular regurgitation (PVR). Owing to its novelty, there is a paucity of data on its application in clinical practice.

Methods: Consecutive cohort analysis of the use of the Navitor system in an as-treated clinical setting at a quaternary heart hospital.

Exaggerated myocardial torsion may contribute to dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Aims: Dynamic left ventricular (LV) outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) is associated with symptoms and increased risk of developing heart failure in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The association of LVOTO and LV twist mechanics has not been well studied in HCM. The aim of the study was to compare the pattern of LV twist in patients with HCM associated with asymmetrical septal hypertrophy with and without LVOTO.

Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance 2019 Case of the Week series.

The Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) is an international society focused on the research, education, and clinical application of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). The SCMR web site ( https://www.scmr.

Surgical Repair of a Unileaflet Mitral Valve: A Rare Congenital Abnormality and a Novel Surgical Approach.

• The authors report a novel approach for MV repair. • ULMV is rare in clinical practice. • Comprehensive multimodality cardiac imaging can delineate complex valvular pathology.

Multimodality Imaging in a Case of Chronic Massive Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm.

• LV pseudoaneurysm is a rare but fatal complication of myocardial infarction. • Multimodality imaging is important in the diagnosis. • Surgical repair is the mainstay of treatment.

Left Ventricular Aneurysm Perforating into the Right Ventricle: A Rare Complication of a Small Side Branch Occlusion after Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

• LV aneurysm formation and VSR complicated elective PCI. • This rare pathology occurred after occlusion of a <1-mm diagonal artery. • Multimodality imaging was integral to correct diagnosis.

A rare case of a pericardial mass: Myelosarcoma from relapsed acute monoblastic leukaemia without bone marrow involvement.

Introduction: A 67-year-old male presented with progressive exertional dyspnoea, night sweats and 25 kg of weight loss over 2 years. He was febrile, 38.0°C, hypotensive and tachycardiac.

Myofibrillar Cardiomyopathy due to a Novel Desmin Gene Mutation: Complementary Role of Echocardiography, Cardiac Magnetic Resonance, and Genetic Testing in Delineating Diagnosis.

The investigators present a rare case of myofibrillar cardiomyopathy in an 18-year-old male patient in which echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and genetic testing played complementary roles. At the , the parasternal long- and short-axis views of the heart document increased wall thickness and normal systolic function. Significant diastolic dysfunction was present.

Pericardiectomy is Associated with Improvement in Longitudinal Displacement of Left Ventricular Free Wall Due to Increased Counterclockwise Septal-to-Lateral Rotational Displacement.

Background: Pericardiectomy is an effective intervention for constrictive pericarditis. Speckle-tracking echocardiography can provide quantitative information not only about longitudinal strain (LS) but about longitudinal displacement (LD) and septal-to-lateral rotational displacement (SLRD). The aim of this study was to investigate whether pericardiectomy improves myocardial mechanics using speckle-tracking analysis.

Relation of reduced preclinical left ventricular diastolic function and cardiac remodeling in overweight youth to insulin resistance and inflammation.

Insulin resistance (IR) and inflammation are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and may contribute to obesity cardiomyopathy. The earliest sign of obesity cardiomyopathy is impaired left ventricular (LV) diastolic function, which may be evident in obese children and adolescents. However, the precise metabolic basis of the impaired LV diastolic function remains unknown.

The central role of EED in the orchestration of polycomb group complexes.

Polycomb repressive complexes 1 and 2 (PRC1 and 2) play a critical role in the epigenetic regulation of transcription during cellular differentiation, stem cell pluripotency and neoplastic progression. Here we show that the polycomb group protein EED, a core component of PRC2, physically interacts with and functions as part of PRC1. Components of PRC1 and PRC2 compete for EED binding.

Improved interobserver variability and accuracy of echocardiographic visual left ventricular ejection fraction assessment through a self-directed learning program using cardiac magnetic resonance images.

Background: Although not recommended in isolation, visual estimation of echocardiographic ejection fraction (EF) is widely applied to confirm quantitative EF. However, interobserver variability for EF estimation has been reported to be as high as 14%. The aim of this study was to determine whether self-directed education could improve the accuracy and interobserver variability of visual estimation of EF and whether a multireader estimate improves measurement precision.

Changes in left atrial mechanics following pericardiectomy for pericardial constriction.

Background: Although impaired left ventricular (LV) filling in constrictive pericarditis (CP) is attributable to external constraints by a tethered pericardium, impaired left atrial (LA) function can further impair LV filling. Previous studies focused on the impact of a tethered pericardium on LV diastolic behavior, but its impact on LA function has been largely overlooked. The objectives of this study were to evaluate LA mechanics in CP and to assess the impact of pericardiectomy on LA mechanics.

Biventricular mechanics in constrictive pericarditis comparison with restrictive cardiomyopathy and impact of pericardiectomy.

Background: The aim of our study was to compare myocardial mechanics of constrictive pericarditis (CP) with restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM), or healthy controls; to assess the impact of pericardial thickening detected by cardiac magnetic resonance on regional myocardial mechanics in CP; and to quantitate the effect of pericardiectomy on myocardial mechanics in CP.

Methods And Results: Myocardial mechanics were evaluated by 2-dimensional speckle tracking in 52 consecutive patients with CP who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance examination before pericardiectomy, 35 patients with RCM, and 26 control subjects. CP patients had selectively depressed left ventricular (LV) anterolateral wall strain (LWS) and right ventricular (RV) free wall longitudinal systolic strain (FWS) but preserved LV septal wall systolic strain (SWS).