Standard care vs. TRIVEntricular pacing in Heart Failure (STRIVE HF): a prospective multicentre randomized controlled trial of triventricular pacing vs. conventional biventricular pacing in patients with heart failure and intermediate QRS left bundle branch block.

Aims: To determine whether triventricular (TriV) pacing is feasible and improves CRT response compared to conventional biventricular (BiV) pacing in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) and intermediate QRS prolongation (120-150 ms).

Methods And Results: Between October 2015 and November 2019, 99 patients were recruited from 11 UK centres. Ninety-five patients were randomized 1:1 to receive TriV or BiV pacing systems.

Improving the performance of an end-point PCR assay commonly used for the detection of Bacteroidales pertaining to cow feces.

Bacteroidales are normal gut flora of warm-blooded animals. Since each host species carries a different diversity of Bacteroidales, the detection of host-associated gene markers of Bacteroidales has emerged as a promising tool for the tracking of the source of fecal pollution in aquatic ecosystems. To detect cow-associated Bacteroidales, a commonly used method has been an end-point PCR assay with the 16S rRNA genes primers CF128F (cow-associated) and Bac708R (all Bacteroidales).

Validation of carotid arterial wall volume measurement by cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Purpose: To validate cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) arterial wall volume measurement using whole arterial specimens ex vivo.

Materials And Methods: Twenty cadaveric carotid arteries (from 10 patients) were fixed in formaldehyde and imaged with a clinical T1-weighted 2D CMR sequence and, for imaging validation, with a high-resolution 3D sequence. Histological validation was performed by sectioning the arteries and microscopically determining area and volume.

Ultra-short echo time cardiovascular magnetic resonance of atherosclerotic carotid plaque.

Background: Multi-contrast weighted cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) allows detailed plaque characterisation and assessment of plaque vulnerability. The aim of this preliminary study was to show the potential of Ultra-short Echo Time (UTE) subtraction MR in detecting calcification.

Methods: 14 ex-vivo human carotid arteries were scanned using CMR and CT, prior to histological slide preparation.

Effect of rosiglitazone on progression of atherosclerosis: insights using 3D carotid cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Background: There is recent evidence suggesting that rosiglitazone increases death from cardiovascular causes. We investigated the direct effect of this drug on atheroma using 3D carotid cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Results: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was performed to evaluate the effect of rosiglitazone treatment on carotid atherosclerosis in subjects with type 2 diabetes and coexisting vascular disease or hypertension.

Novel technique used to detect swallowing in volume-selective turbo spin-echo (TSE) for carotid artery wall imaging.

Purpose: To improve three-dimensional (3D) volume-selective turbo spin-echo (TSE) carotid wall imaging by the addition of a novel body surface swallowing detection device.

Material And Methods: A 3D volume-selective TSE sequence was used to image the carotid artery. A novel carbon-fiber motion device, positioned over the laryngeal prominence, was used to detect swallowing movement.