Agreement between Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test and Modified 6-Min Walk Test in Determining Oxygen Uptake in COPD Patients with Different Severity Stages.

Background: In moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients the 6-min walk test (6MWT) is often exhaustive and correlates with the incremental cycle cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the agreement between oxygen uptake (VO2) measured during the 6MWT by portable equipment and incremental cycle exercise in COPD patients with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) I-IV.

Methods: A total of 30 patients with COPD GOLD I-IV (14 patients GOLD stage I and II and 16 patients GOLD stage III and IV) underwent a 6MWT and an incremental CPET.

Extracellular volume quantification by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging without hematocrit sampling : Ready for prime time?

Background: Myocardial tissue characterization by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) T1 mapping currently receives increasing interest as a diagnostic tool in various disease settings. The T1-mapping technique allows non-invasive estimation of myocardial extracellular volume (ECV) using T1-times before and after gadolinium administration; however, for calculation of the myocardial ECV the hematocrit is needed, which limits its utility in routine application. Recently, the alternative use of the blood pool T1-time instead of the hematocrit has been described.

Diameter of the Pulmonary Artery in Relation to the Ascending Aorta: Association with Cardiovascular Outcome.

Purpose To investigate whether the pulmonary artery (PA)-to-ascending aorta (Ao) ratio is associated with outcome in unselected patients referred for cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Materials and Methods This study prospectively enrolled 650 consecutive patients (47.2% women; mean age, 56.

Interstitial Fibrosis, Functional Status, and Outcomes in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: Insights From a Prospective Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Background: Myocardial extracellular volume (ECV) accumulation is one of the key pathophysiologic features of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Our aims were to (1) measure ECV by cardiac magnetic resonance T1 mapping using the modified Look-Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) sequence, (2) validate MOLLI-ECV against histology, and (3) investigate the relationship between MOLLI-ECV and prognosis in HFpEF.

Methods And Results: One-hundred seventeen consecutive HFpEF patients underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, coronary angiography, and invasive hemodynamic assessments at baseline.

Long-Term Outcome of Combined (Percutaneous Intramyocardial and Intracoronary) Application of Autologous Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells Post Myocardial Infarction: The 5-Year MYSTAR Study.

Objective: The long-term (5-year) outcome of early (3-6 weeks after acute myocardial infarction [AMI], BM-MNC Early group) and late (3-4 months after AMI, BM-MNC Late group) combined (percutaneous intramyocardial and intracoronary) delivery of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) was evaluated in patients with ejection fractions (EF) between 30-45% post-AMI.

Methods: Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and hospitalization were recorded. Left (LV) and right (RV) ventricular function were measured by transthoracic echocardiography.

Canine scent detection for the diagnosis of lung cancer in a screening-like situation.

The prognosis in lung cancer depends largely on early stage detection, and thus new screening methods are attracting increasing attention. Canine scent detection has shown promising results in lung cancer detection, but there has only been one previous study that reproduces a screening-like situation. Here breath samples were collected from 122 patients at risk for lung cancer (smokers and ex-smokers); 29 of the subjects had confirmed diagnosis of lung cancer but had not yet been treated and 93 subjects had no signs or symptoms of lung cancer at the time of inclusion.

T1 Mapping by CMR Imaging: From Histological Validation to Clinical Implication.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to prospectively investigate the diagnostic and prognostic impact of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) T1 mapping and validate it against left ventricular biopsies.

Background: Extracellular volume (ECV) expansion is a key feature of heart failure. CMR T1 mapping has been developed as a noninvasive technique to estimate ECV; however, the diagnostic and prognostic impacts of this technique have not been well established.

The right heart in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: insights from cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and invasive haemodynamics.

Aims: Recent data indicate that right ventricular systolic dysfunction (RVSD) by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is a strong predictor of outcome in heart failure. However, the prognostic significance of RVSD by CMR in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is unknown.

Methods And Results: We prospectively enrolled 171 HFpEF patients who underwent CMR in addition to invasive and non-invasive testing.

Pulmonary artery to aorta ratio for the detection of pulmonary hypertension: cardiovascular magnetic resonance and invasive hemodynamics in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Background: Previous work indicates that dilatation of the pulmonary artery (PA) itself or in relation to the ascending aorta (PA:Ao ratio) predicts pulmonary hypertension (PH). Whether these results also apply for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is unknown. In the present study we evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic power of PA diameter and PA:Ao ratio on top of right ventricular (RV) size, function, and septomarginal trabeculation (SMT) thickness by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in HFpEF.

Prognostic Impact of Tricuspid Regurgitation in Patients Undergoing Aortic Valve Surgery for Aortic Stenosis.

Background: The prognostic significance of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and right ventricular (RV) function in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) for severe aortic stenosis (AS) is unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of TR and RV systolic dysfunction on early and late mortality in this setting.

Methods: This was a prospective single-center observational study.

Influence of drug adherence and medical care on heart failure outcome in the primary care setting in Austria.

Purpose: Guideline-recommended therapy has been proven beneficial in heart failure (HF), but general implementation remains poor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adherence to drug therapy, quality of primary non-drug medical care (NDMC) and its impact on HF outcome.

Methods: From 13 Austrian health insurance funds, we identified 36 829 patients (77.

Right ventricular dysfunction, but not tricuspid regurgitation, is associated with outcome late after left heart valve procedure.

Background: Significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR) late after left heart valve procedure is frequent and associated with increased morbidity. Surgical correction carries a significant mortality risk, whereas the impact of TR on survival in these patients is unclear.

Objectives: This study sought to assess the impact of significant TR late after left heart valve procedure.

The anticipation and management of air leaks and residual spaces post lung resection.

The incidence of any kind of air leaks after lung resections is reportedly around 50% of patients. The majority of these leaks doesn't require any specific intervention and ceases within a few hours or days. The recent literature defines a prolonged air leak (PAL) as an air leak lasting beyond postoperative day 5.

Cardiac magnetic resonance postcontrast T1 time is associated with outcome in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction.

Background: The underlying pathophysiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) is incompletely understood, but myocardial extracellular matrix accumulation is thought to play a major role. Our aims were to estimate myocardial extracellular matrix using cardiac magnetic resonance T1 mapping and to assess the relationship between pathobiology/pathophysiology and prognosis.

Methods And Results: Patients with suspected HFPEF (n=100) were enrolled in this prospective, observational study.

Measurement of retinal oxygen saturation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Purpose: There is growing evidence that disturbances in retinal oxygenation may trigger ocular diseases. New instruments allow for the noninvasive measurement of retinal oxygen saturation in humans. The present study was designed to investigate the retinal oxygen saturation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Strength training increases maximum working capacity in patients with COPD--randomized clinical trial comparing three training modalities.

Background And Objective: Skeletal muscle dysfunction contributes to exercise limitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Strength training increases muscle strength and muscle mass, but there is an ongoing debate on the additional effect concerning the exercise capacity. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of three different exercise modalities in patients with COPD including endurance training (ET), progressive strength training (ST) and the combination of strength training and endurance training (CT).

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptor expression in monocyte-derived macrophages from COPD patients.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is one of the most abundant molecules found in the respiratory tract. Due to its anti-inflammatory and bronchodilatatory properties, it has been proposed as a novel treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The actions of VIP are mediated via three different G-protein-coupled receptors (VPAC1, VPAC2 and PAC1) which are expressed in the respiratory tract and on immunocompetent cells including macrophages.

Abnormal pulmonary arterial pressure limits exercise capacity in patients with COPD.

Objective: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) is often only slightly elevated at rest but is increased by exercise. The purpose of this study was to determine whether abnormal pulmonary artery pressure impairs exercise capacity in patients with COPD.