Are Hospital Admissions (Costs) and Mortality Rate Impacted by Guideline-driven Treatment of Heart Failure?: A Comparison between Participants in the "CorBene" CMP and Standard-care Patients on the Basis of Propensity Score Matching.

Heart failure (HF) is one of the most common diagnoses on admission to hospital in Germany, and one which incurs high costs. Integrated care in case management programs (CMPs) aims to improve treatment quality in the sense of guideline-driven treatment, while reducing hospital admissions, hospital costs, and mortality. A total of 1,844 patient data records from 11 German statutory health insurance companies enrolled in the CMP (intervention group [IG]) were compared with 1,844 standard-care patients (control group) using propensity score matching.

The value of AI-based analysis of fractional flow reserve of volume computed tomographically detected coronary artery stenosis with regard to their hemodynamic relevance.

Purpose: The aim of our work was to demonstrate the importance of artificial intelligence-based analysis of fractional flow reserves of computed tomographically detected coronary artery stenosis with regard to their hemodynamic relevance in patients with unclear chest pain and suspected stable coronary heart disease with a low to medium pre-test probability.

Material And Methods: The collective of our retrospective analysis includes 63 patients in whom coronary artery stenosis was detected by volume computed tomographic examination in "one beat, whole heart" mode in the period from March to October 2022. In these patients, the fractional flow reserve was also determined by computed tomography, which was modulated by the use of artificial intelligence.

Optimizing fibrosis detection: a comparison of electroanatomical mapping and late enhancement gadolinium magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Fibrotic atrial cardiomyopathy plays an important role in determining the outcome of ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Two main methods are being used for the evaluation of fibrosis: voltage-based high-density (HD) electroanatomical mapping (EAM) and late gadolinium enhancement MRI (LGE-MRI). The comparability between both methods in detecting fibrosis has not been systematically investigated.

Long-term impact of a bonus freeze on clinical outcome: Analysis of effective and non-effective bonus freezes in cryoballoon ablation.

Purpose: Data on bonus freeze characteristics and their impact on complication rates and long-term clinical outcome are limited.

Methods: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using a 28 mm 2nd-generation cryoballoon (CB) was performed in 169 patients (pts). The isolation temperatures, time to isolation and minimal temperatures of the cryoapplications were documented.

T2-relaxation time increases in lumbar intervertebral discs after 21d head-down tilt bed-rest.

Objectives: Spaceflight back pain and intervertebral disc (IVD) herniations cause problems in astronauts. Purpose of this study was to assess changes in T2-relaxation-time through MRI measurements before and after head-down tilt bed-rest, a spaceflight analog.

Methods: 8 men participated in the bed-rest study.

The additional value of the lateral chest radiograph for the detection of small pulmonary nodules-a ROC analysis.

Objective: For the past 30 years, many authors have described different advantages of the use of the additional lateral chest radiograph. However, some radiologic departments gave up performing the lateral view recently. A potential reason for this might be a lack of evidence for any diagnostic benefit of the additional lateral view of the thorax in recent studies.

Pulmonary vein isolation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation : Long-term clinical outcomes with first- and second-generation cryoballoons.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term success rates of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using only first-generation cryoballoon (CB-1) and second-generation CB (CB-2) in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF).

Patients And Methods: A total of 114 drug-refractory patients with PAF (mean age: 62 ± 10 years; 62.3 % males) were enrolled.

Cryoballoon ablation for pulmonary vein isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation: preliminary results using novel short-tip cryoballoon.

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to report our preliminary experience regarding the impact of the novel short-tip (ST) cryoballoon (CB) on procedural efficacy and signal quality during pulmonary vein (PV) isolation for both paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation.

Methods: Between March, 2015, and August, 2015, we enrolled a total of 64 patients (47 patients male, 73 %) with a mean age of 60 ± 11 years. In the study population, 31 patients (48 %) underwent PVI using Advance (ADV) CB and 33 (52 %) patients with ST CB.

Cryoballoon Ablation for Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Patients With Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: One-Year Outcome Using Second Generation Cryoballoon.

Background: Data regarding the freedom from atrial fibrillation (AF) in the follow-up of persistent AF patients is limited. The second-generation cryoballoon has better cooling properties compared with first-generation cryoballon. In this study, we aimed to assess the medium-term efficacy of second-generation cryoballoon in patients with persistent AF.

Association of atrial tissue fibrosis identified by delayed enhancement MRI and atrial fibrillation catheter ablation: the DECAAF study.

Importance: Left atrial fibrosis is prominent in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Extensive atrial tissue fibrosis identified by delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been associated with poor outcomes of AF catheter ablation.

Objective: To characterize the feasibility of atrial tissue fibrosis estimation by delayed enhancement MRI and its association with subsequent AF ablation outcome.

Changes in intervertebral disc morphology persist 5 mo after 21-day bed rest.

As part of the nutrition-countermeasures (NUC) study in Cologne, Germany in 2010, seven healthy male subjects underwent 21 days of head-down tilt bed rest and returned 153 days later to undergo a second bout of 21-day bed rest. As part of this model, we aimed to examine the recovery of the lumbar intervertebral discs and muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) after bed rest using magnetic resonance imaging and conduct a pilot study on the effects of bed rest in lumbar muscle activation, as measured by signal intensity changes in T(2)-weighted images after a standardized isometric spinal extension loading task. The changes in intervertebral disc volume, anterior and posterior disc height, and intervertebral length seen after bed rest did not return to prebed-rest values 153 days later.

Incidence of asymptomatic intracranial embolic events after pulmonary vein isolation: comparison of different atrial fibrillation ablation technologies in a multicenter study.

Objectives: We compared the safety of different devices by screening for subclinical intracranial embolic events after pulmonary vein isolation with either conventional irrigated radiofrequency (RF) or cryoballoon or multielectrode phased RF pulmonary vein ablation catheter (PVAC).

Background: New devices specifically designed to facilitate pulmonary vein isolation procedures have recently been introduced.

Methods: This prospective, observational, multicenter study included patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation referred for pulmonary vein isolation.

Predictive value of B-type natriuretic peptide levels in patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation undergoing pulmonary vein isolation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia reducing the health-related quality of life. Radiofrequency catheter ablation (CA) became the therapy of choice in patients with drug-resistant AF with success rates between 30% and 86%. However, CA remains a challenging intervention with major complications in about 5% of cases.

Assessment of left ventricular function parameters with a new three-dimensional shape model.

Purpose: To evaluate a 3D model of the left ventricle (LV) which allows calculation of LV function parameters on the basis of both short axis (SA) and long axis (LA) cine acquisitions. Comparison with the conventional Simpson's rule method in a volunteer and patient collective.

Materials And Methods: Cine imaging was performed with a prospectively triggered SSFP sequence: trueFISP: TR 3.

Assessment of functional anatomy of the mitral valve in patients with mitral regurgitation with cine magnetic resonance imaging: comparison with transesophageal echocardiography and surgical results.

The ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to accurately define the functional anatomy of mitral regurgitation was assessed. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and cine MRI were performed on 43 patients with mitral regurgitation and were compared for the jet number, location, direction and presence of a prolapse (atrial displacement, malapposition or a flail). In 36 patients, diagnostic accuracy in reference to surgery was assessed.

Multidetector CT urography: experimental analysis of radiation dose reduction in an animal model.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility of reducing X-ray exposure during multidetector CT urography (MDCTU) considering image quality using a porcine model. MDCTU was performed in eight healthy pigs. Scanning was conducted using a gradual reduction of the tube current-time product at 120 kV [200-20 mAs (eff.

[Patterns of delayed-enhancement in MRI of ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies].

Contrast-enhanced MRI using the delayed-enhancement technique (DE-MRI) is widely applied in the clinical work-up of myocardial diseases. Myocardial diseases of varying etiology result in myocardial changes, such as necrosis, fibrosis, edema and metabolite deposition, which can be visualized by DE-MRI. Acute and chronic ischemic diseases based on a coronary artery disease as well as non-ischemic cardiomyopathies display DE.

MRI of the coronary vessel wall at 3 T: comparison of radial and cartesian k-space sampling.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to compare the quality of 3D gradient-echo images obtained using radial versus cartesian k-space sampling at 3 T.

Conclusion: This study shows that the quality of coronary vessel wall imaging of the right coronary artery with radial k-space sampling in 3D turbo field-echo sequences is superior to cartesian k-space sampling at 3 T. Radial k-space sampling at 3 T makes it possible to combine low motion artifact susceptibility with high signal-to-noise ratio.

Value of T2-weighted, first-pass and delayed enhancement, and cine CMR to differentiate between acute and chronic myocardial infarction.

The aim of this study was to analyze the diagnostic accuracy of edema on T2-weighted (T2w) cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), presence of microvascular obstruction (MO) on first-pass enhancement (FPE) or on delayed enhancement (DE) CMR, and wall thinning on cine CMR to differentiate between acute (AMI) and chronic myocardial infarction (CMI) in patients with infarction on DE-CMR. Fifty patients were imaged 5 +/- 3 days (baseline) and 8 +/- 3 months (follow-up) after AMI at 1.5 T.

Coronary vessel-wall and lumen imaging using radial k-space acquisition with MRI at 3 Tesla.

This study investigates the feasibility of imaging the coronary lumen and vessel-wall, using MRI with a radial k-space trajectory at 3 T. Such radial trajectories offer the advantage of greater vessel sharpness than traditional Cartesian trajectories. This field strength offers an increased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) compared with 1.

Detection of small pulmonary nodules in high-field MR at 3 T: evaluation of different pulse sequences using porcine lung explants.

To evaluate two MR imaging sequences for the detection of artificial pulmonary nodules inside porcine lung explants. 67 agarose nodules ranging 3-20 mm were injected into ten porcine lungs within a dedicated chest phantom. The signal on T1-weighted images and radiopacity were adjusted by adding 0.

Characterization of the peri-infarction zone using T2-weighted MRI and delayed-enhancement MRI in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

To characterize the peri-infarction zone using T2-weighted (T2w) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and infarct size on delayed enhancement (DE) MRI in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In 65 patients, short-axis T2w and DE MRI images were acquired 5 +/- 3 d after AMI. The MRI was analyzed using a threshold method defining infarct size on DE MRI and edema on T2w MRI as areas with signal intensity larger than +2 SD above remote normal myocardium.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the coronary vessel wall at 3 T using an obliquely oriented reinversion slab with adiabatic pulses.

Three-dimensional methods offer volumetric coverage in coronary vessel wall imaging, in addition to high signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). To increase SNR further, it is desirable to implement such 3D methods at 3 T. At this field strength, the pulse sequence must be robust to main field and RF inhomogeneities.

Evaluation of balanced steady-state free precession (TrueFISP) and K-space segmented gradient echo sequences for 3D coronary MR angiography with navigator gating at 3 Tesla.

Purpose: To test the feasibility of k-space segmented gradient-echo pulse sequences for free-breathing coronary magnetic resonance angiography (cMRA) on a clinical 3T system.

Materials And Methods: T2-prepared, fat-suppressed turbo field echo (TFE, turboFLASH, SFPGR) as well as balanced TFE (b-TFE, trueFISP, FIESTA, segmented SSFP) sequences with navigator gating for prospective motion correction were applied on a 3T system equipped with a six-element phased-array cardiac coil. In 15 healthy volunteers, the right coronary artery (RCA) was examined with TFE and b-TFE sequences.