Effect of a yoga and naturopathy-based lifestyle intervention with nine-month follow-up on lipid profile in patients with hypertension: A two-arms parallel group randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Hypertension is recognized as a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, alongside dyslipidemia. Studies have revealed that between 15% to 31% of individuals have both hypertension and dyslipidemia. However, emerging evidence suggests that natural therapies and yoga can help manage mild increases in blood pressure.

Postoperative aortic isthmus size after arch reconstruction with patch augmentation predicts arch reintervention.

Background: Rates of reintervention (RI) after patch-augmented reconstruction for hypoplastic aortic arch (HAA) remain moderately high. We analyzed mid-term outcomes of aortic arch reconstruction to define modifiable reintervention risk factors.

Methods: Excluding Damus-Kaye-Stansel anastomoses and previous arch repair, 338 patients underwent arch reconstruction between 2000 and 2021 at median age of 6 days (interquartile range [IQR], 4-13 days) and a median weight of 3.

Impact of surgical strategy and postrepair transverse aortic arch size on late hypertension after coarctation repair during infancy.

Background: Late hypertension (HTN) after coarctation of the aorta (CoA) repair contributes to higher morbidity and mortality. An association between transverse aortic arch (TAA) hypoplasia and HTN has been found, but its relationship with surgical strategy is unclear. We studied the association between late HTN and initial surgical strategy pertaining to the TAA.

Intervention for critical aortic stenosis in Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome.

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) is an ultra-rare genetic premature aging disease that is historically fatal in teenage years, secondary to severe accelerated atherosclerosis. The only approved treatment is the farnesyltransferase inhibitor lonafarnib, which improves vascular structure and function, extending average untreated lifespan of 14.5 years by 4.

Impact of Age-Related Change in Caval Flow Ratio on Hepatic Flow Distribution in the Fontan Circulation.

Background: The Fontan operation is a palliative technique for patients born with single ventricle heart disease. The superior vena cava (SVC), inferior vena cava (IVC), and hepatic veins are connected to the pulmonary arteries in a total cavopulmonary connection by an extracardiac conduit or a lateral tunnel connection. A balanced hepatic flow distribution (HFD) to both lungs is essential to prevent pulmonary arteriovenous malformations and cyanosis.

Growth of the right ventricular outflow tract in repaired tetralogy of Fallot: A longitudinal CMR study.

Background: Many patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot require pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) due to significant pulmonary regurgitation (PR). Transcatheter PVR (TPVR) is an equally effective and less invasive alternative to surgical PVR but many native right ventricular outflow tracts (RVOTs) are too large for TPVR at time of referral. Understanding the rate of growth of the RVOT may help optimize timing of referral.

Aortic growth after arch reconstruction with patch augmentation: a 2-decade experience.

Objectives: Optimal aortic sizing during aortic arch reconstruction remains unknown. Negative effects of arch under- or oversizing are well-published. We aimed to characterize longitudinal aortic growth after patch-augmented arch reconstruction to identify the initial reconstructed arch size that results in normal mid-term arch dimensions.

Resilience of hospital and allied infrastructure during pandemic and post pandemic periods for maternal health care of pregnant women and infants in Tamil Nadu, India - A counterfactual analysis.

COVID-19 has impacted the healthcare system across the globe. The study will span three pandemic waves in 2020, 2021, and 2022. The goal is to learn how the pandemic affects antenatal care (ANC) and emergency delivery care for pregnant women in Tamil Nadu, India, and how medical services respond.

Proposed competencies for the performance of cardiovascular computed tomography in pediatric and adult congenital heart disease.

Cardiovascular computed tomography (CCT) is rated appropriate by published guidelines for the initial evaluation and follow up of congenital heart disease (CHD) and is an essential modality in cardiac imaging programs for patients of all ages. However, no recommended core competencies exist to guide CCT in CHD imaging training pathways, curricula development, or establishment of a more formal educational platform. To fill this gap, a group of experienced congenital cardiac imagers, intentionally inclusive of adult and pediatric cardiologists and radiologists, was formed to propose core competencies fundamental to the expert-level performance of CCT in pediatric acquired and congenital heart disease and adult CHD.

Pacemaker lead insertion sites contribute to abnormalities of myocardial function and histopathology.

Background: Ventricular pacing can cause myocardial dysfunction, but how lead anchoring to the myocardium affects function has not been studied.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate patterns of regional and global ventricular function in patients with a ventricular lead using cine cardiac computed tomography (CCT) and histology.

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study with 2 groups of patients with a ventricular lead: (1) those who underwent cine CCT from September 2020 to June 2021 and (2) those whose cardiac specimen was analyzed histologically.

Comparison of aortic stiffness and hypertension in repaired coarctation patients with a bicuspid versus a tricuspid aortic valve.

Background: Coarctation of the aorta (COA) is associated with reduced aortic distensibility and systemic hypertension (HTN). 60-85% of COA patients have a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). It is not known if the presence of a BAV accentuates the aortopathy and HTN in CoA patients.

Longitudinal changes in ventricular size and function are associated with death and transplantation late after the Fontan operation.

Background: Cross-sectional studies have reported that ventricular dilation and dysfunction are associated with adverse clinical outcome in Fontan patients; however, longitudinal changes and their relationship with outcome are not known.

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective analysis of Fontan patients with at least 2 cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) scans without intervening interventions. Serial measures of end-diastolic volume index (EDVI), end-systolic volume index (ESVI), ejection fraction (EF), indexed mass (mass), mass-to-volume ratio, and end-systolic wall stress (ESWS) were used to estimate within-patient change over time.

Double Aortic Arch with Atresia of the Left Aortic Arch Proximal to the Left Common Carotid Artery: First Report of Documentation by Surgical Observation.

Double aortic arch associated with atresia of the left arch proximal to the left common carotid artery has been considered a theoretical possibility. To our knowledge, we report the first patient with this anatomy confirmed by surgical observation.

Follow-up cardiac magnetic resonance in children with vaccine-associated myocarditis.

Unlabelled: Myocarditis is a rare complication of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. We previously reported a case series of 15 adolescents with vaccine-associated myocarditis, 87% of whom had abnormalities on initial cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), including late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in 80%. We performed follow-up CMRs to determine the trajectory of myocardial recovery and better understand the natural history of vaccine-associated myocarditis.

Utility of cardiac CT in infants with congenital heart disease: Diagnostic performance and impact on management.

Background: Advances in cardiac CT (CCT) scanner technology allow imaging without anesthesia, and with low radiation dose, making it an attractive technique in infants with congenital heart disease. However, the utility of CCT using a dual-source scanner with respect to diagnostic performance and impact on management has not been systematically studied in this population.

Methods: Retrospective review of infants who underwent CCT to determine the utility of CCT with respect to the following: answering the primary diagnostic question, providing new diagnostic information, prompting a change in management, and concordance with catheterization or surgical inspection.

Association of Myocarditis With BNT162b2 Messenger RNA COVID-19 Vaccine in a Case Series of Children.

Importance: The BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccine was authorized on May 10, 2021, for emergency use in children aged 12 years and older. Initial reports showed that the vaccine was well tolerated without serious adverse events; however, cases of myocarditis have been reported since approval.

Objective: To review results of comprehensive cardiac imaging in children with myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccine.

Longitudinal changes in extent of late gadolinium enhancement in repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: a retrospective analysis of serial CMRs.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) occurs due to surgical scarring and RV remodeling, and has been shown to be associated with clinical outcomes in Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). However, it is not known if cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) LGE extent progresses over time, and therefore, it is not known if serial reassessment of LGE is necessary. We determined the rate of progression in the extent of RV LGE on serial CMR examinations in repaired TOF.

Acute and Short-Term Outcomes of Percutaneous Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement in Children.

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Rapid ascending aorta stiffening in bicuspid aortic valve on serial cardiovascular magnetic resonance evaluation: comparison with connective tissue disorders.

Background: Aortic stiffness has been shown to be abnormal in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), and is considered a component of the aortopathy associated with this condition. Progressive aortic stiffening associated with aging has been previously described in normal adults. However, it is not known if aging related aortic stiffening occurs at the same rate in BAV patients.

Bolton's analysis using a photogrammetric method on occlusal photographs.

Purpose: The aim of the study is to present a photogrammetric technique using standardized occlusal photographs to perform Bolton's analysis and assess reliability of this new method with plaster study casts.

Materials And Methods: The study was conducted on 16 subjects (8 males, 8 females), aged 18-25 years. Standardized occlusal photographs and plaster study casts were obtained.

Pediatric Heart Network Echocardiographic Z Scores: Comparison with Other Published Models.

Background: Different methods have resulted in variable Z scores for echocardiographic measurements. Using the measurements from 3,215 healthy North American children in the Pediatric Heart Network (PHN) echocardiographic Z score database, the authors compared the PHN model with previously published Z score models.

Methods: Z scores were derived for cardiovascular measurements using four models (PHN, Boston, Italy, and Detroit).