A 64k pixel CMOS-DEPFET module for the soft X-rays DSSC imager operating at MHz-frame rates.

The 64k pixel DEPFET module is the key sensitive component of the DEPFET Sensor with Signal Compression (DSSC), a large area 2D hybrid detector for capturing and measuring soft X-rays at the European XFEL. The final 1-megapixel camera has to detect photons with energies between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], and must provide a peak frame rate of [Formula: see text] to cope with the unique bunch structure of the European XFEL. This work summarizes the functionalities and properties of the first modules assembled with full-format CMOS-DEPFET arrays, featuring [Formula: see text] hexagonally-shaped pixels with a side length of 136 μm.

Cardiac remodeling in ambitious endurance-trained amateur athletes older than 50 years-an observational study.

Background: Data on cardiac remodeling in veteran athletes are conflicting but of clinical importance.

Methods: Sixty-nine clinically stable and healthy individuals >50 years were identified (median 55 (IQR 52-64), 26% female). Echocardiographic features were identified in individuals, who have performed endurance sports at 70% of their maximum heart rate for at least 1 hour 3 times/ week over the previous 5 years.

Bioimpedance Spectroscopy Reveals Important Association of Fluid Status and T -Mapping by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance.

Background: Extracellular matrix expansion is a key pathophysiologic feature in heart failure and can be quantified noninvasively by cardiac magnetic resonance T -mapping. Free water within the interstitial space of the myocardium, however, may also alter T -mapping results.

Purpose: To investigate the association between systemic fluid status and T -mapping by cardiac magnetic resonance.

Transcatheter Versus Surgical Valve Repair in Patients with Severe Mitral Regurgitation.

Background: Transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TMVR) is increasingly performed. However, its efficacy in comparison with surgical MV treatment (SMV) is unknown.

Methods: Consecutive patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) undergoing TMVR (68% functional, 32% degenerative) or SMV (9% functional, 91% degenerative) were enrolled.

Prognostic impact of left atrial function in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in sinus rhythm vs. persistent atrial fibrillation.

Aims: We sought to determine the prognostic impact of left atrial (LA) size and function in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in sinus rhythm (SR) vs. atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods And Results: We enrolled consecutive HFpEF patients and assessed indexed LA volumes and emptying fractions (LA-EF) on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Identification of Subclinical Microvascular Biomarkers in Coronary Heart Disease in Retinal Imaging.

Purpose: Cardiovascular disease and foremost coronary heart disease (CHD) are the worldwide leading causes of death. The aim of this study was to use non-invasive, multimodel retinal imaging to define microvascular features in patients with and without coronary angiography (CA)-confirmed CHD.

Methods: In this prospective, cross-sectional pilot study we included adult patients who presented to a tertiary referral center for elective CA due to suspected CHD.

Endurance Training Improves Oxygen Uptake and Endurance Capacity in Patients With Moderate to Severe Valvular Disease.

Peak oxygen uptake (peakVO) is one of the strongest predictors of survival in patients with valvular heart disease. The purpose of this study was to determine whether endurance training improves peakVO and endurance capacity in patients with moderate-severe aortic and mitral valve disease. 30 patients with moderate-severe valvular heart disease were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of endurance training (TG) ( = 16) or standard care (SC) ( = 14).

Right ventricular function and outcome in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Aims: Right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) on echocardiography has been shown to predict outcomes in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, a comparison with the gold standard, RV ejection fraction (EF) on cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), has never been performed.

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients scheduled for TAVR underwent echocardiography and CMR.

Sex Differences in Left Ventricular Remodeling and Outcomes in Chronic Aortic Regurgitation.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) dilatation is a key compensatory feature in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation (AR). However, sex-differences in LV remodeling and outcomes in chronic AR have been poorly investigated so far.

Methods: We performed cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) including phase-contrast velocity-encoded imaging for the measurement of regurgitant fraction (RegF) at the sinotubular junction, in consecutive patients with at least mild AR on echocardiography.

Diagnosis and treatment of cardiac amyloidosis: an interdisciplinary consensus statement.

The prevalence and significance of cardiac amyloidosis have been considerably underestimated in the past; however, the number of patients diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis has increased significantly recently due to growing awareness of the disease, improved diagnostic capabilities and demographic trends. Specific therapies that improve patient prognosis have become available for certain types of cardiac amyloidosis. Thus, the earliest possible referral of patients with suspicion of cardiac amyloidosis to an experienced center is crucial to ensure rapid diagnosis, early initiation of treatment, and structured patient care.

Feature Tracking of Global Longitudinal Strain by Using Cardiovascular MRI Improves Risk Stratification in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Background In heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), echocardiographic studies suggest that global longitudinal strain (GLS) has an impact on survival. Feature-tracking cardiovascular MRI also allows for strain analysis; however, to the knowledge of the authors, little is known about its prognostic value and whether it reflects severity of diffuse fibrosis, as assessed by cardiovascular MRI T1 mapping. Purpose To investigate the association between myocardial strain at cardiovascular MRI with extracellular volume by T1 mapping and outcome in participants with HFpEF.

Left Main Coronary Artery Disease and Outcomes after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusions.

Background: Concomitant left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease in patients with chronic total occlusions (CTO) commonly results in referral for coronary artery bypass grafting, although the impact of LMCA in CTO patients remains largely unknown. Nevertheless, patient selection for percutaneous coronary intervention of CTOs (CTO-PCI) or alternative revascularization strategies should be based on precise evaluation of the coronary anatomy to anticipate those patients that most likely benefit from a procedure and not on strict adherence to perpetual clinical practice. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the impact of LMCA disease on long-term outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for CTO.

Impact of treatment strategies on long-term outcome of CTO patients.

Background: The percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTO) remains debated. Therefore the aim of this large-scale observational multi-center registry was to compare the long-term outcome of CTO patients undergoing different therapeutic approaches comparing successful CTO revascularization either by PCI or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), failed CTO-PCI and optimal medical therapy (OMT) alone.

Methods And Results: A total of 6630 CTO patients were enrolled from two high-volume centers to compare different treatment strategies.

Light-chain and transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis in severe aortic stenosis: prevalence, screening possibilities, and outcome.

Aims: Concomitant cardiac amyloidosis (CA) in severe aortic stenosis (AS) is difficult to recognize, since both conditions are associated with concentric left ventricular thickening. We aimed to assess type, frequency, screening parameters, and prognostic implications of CA in AS.

Methods And Results: A total of 191 consecutive AS patients (81.

Serum levels of gamma-glutamyltransferase predict outcome in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Previous studies suggested an association between heart failure (HF) and hepatic disorders. Liver function parameters have been shown to predict outcome in HF with reduced ejection fraction, but their impact in HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has not yet been investigated. Between January 2011 and February 2017, 274 patients with confirmed HFpEF were enrolled (age 71.

Persistent atrial fibrillation in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: Prognostic relevance and association with clinical, imaging and invasive haemodynamic parameters.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a frequent finding in HFpEF. However, its association with invasive haemodynamics, imaging parameters and outcome in HFpEF is not well established. Furthermore, the relevance of AF subtype with regard to outcome is unclear.

Native T1 time of right ventricular insertion points by cardiac magnetic resonance: relation with invasive haemodynamics and outcome in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Aims: Increased afterload to the right ventricle (RV) has been shown to induce myocardial fibrosis at the RV insertion points (RVIPs). Such changes can be discrete but potentially detected by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) T1-mapping. Whether RVIP fibrosis is associated with prognosis in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is unknown.

Patients with Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction Are at Risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

Aims: Two thirds of patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) have an indication for oral anticoagulation (OAC) to prevent thromboembolic events. However, evidence regarding the safety of OAC in HFpEF is limited. Therefore, our aim was to describe bleeding events and to find predictors of bleeding in a large HFpEF cohort.

Visual assessment of right ventricular function by echocardiography: how good are we?

The complex anatomy and physiology of the right ventricle (RV) is a major limitation of visual echocardiographic gradation of RV systolic function (RVF). The aim of this study was to compare visual assessment ("eyeballing") of RVF with gold standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF). Medical professionals from a range of clinical settings and with varying degrees of echocardiography experience were recruited via an online ultrasound teaching platform.

Plasma renin levels are associated with cardiac function in primary adrenal insufficiency.

Background: Despite adequate glucocorticoid (GC) and mineralocorticoid (MC) replacement therapy, primary adrenal insufficiency (AI) is associated with an increased mortality, mainly due to cardiovascular disease. The role of MC replacement is not known. Therefore, we assessed whether renin concentrations during routine GC and MC substitution therapy are associated with heart function and morphology.

EXPRESS: Riociguat for the treatment of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis - Data from a named patient use program in Austria.

Patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (TTR CA) suffer from impaired exercise capacity, have a poor quality of life (QoL), and approved treatments are lacking. Stimulators of the soluble guanylate cyclase are promising new pharmaceuticals in the treatment armamentarium of heart failure patients. The aim of the present study was to report on the safety and efficacy of riociguat administration in patients with TTR CA.