Multimodal Imaging and Management of a Metastatic Cardiac Intimal Sarcoma.

• Echocardiography is the modality of choice for initial cardiac tumor diagnosis. • CMR aids in tissue characterization, perfusion assessment, and delineating anatomy. • Intimal sarcomas are the most common primary cardiac sarcomas.

Acute Coronary Syndromes Among Patients with Prior Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

Purpose Of Review: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) often occur in individuals with prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Our goal was to describe the prevalence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and treatment strategies in this group of patients.

Recent Findings: Studies demonstrate that both acute and long-term major adverse cardiovascular outcomes are increased in patients with ACS and prior CABG compared to those without CABG.

Common genetic variants associated with obesity in an African-American and Hispanic/Latino population.

Introduction: Over 35% of all adults in the world are currently obese and risk of obesity in racial or ethnic minority groups exist in the US, but the causes of these differences are not all known. As obesity is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, an improved understanding of risk factors across racial and ethnic groups may improve outcomes.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if susceptibility to obesity is associated with genetic variation in candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in African Americans and Hispanic/Latinos.

Left Ventricular Velocity of Propagation: A Useful Non-Invasive Measurement When Assessing Hemodynamic Alterations in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) velocity of propagation (Vp) has been shown to be inversely related to the LV relaxation time constant. We sought to examine Vp from a group of chronic pulmonary hypertension (cPH) patients and compare these values to Vp obtained in normal individuals and patients with known LV diastolic dysfunction (LVDD).

Methods: Echo-Doppler data and Vp measurements were retrospectively collected from all patients.

Left Ventricular Diastolic Function Assessment of a Heterogeneous Cohort of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Patients.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is known to trigger right ventricular (RV) remodeling that might compromise left ventricular (LV) filling due to inter-ventricular interdependence. In this study, we aimed to examine standard echocardiographic measurements of LV diastolic function in PAH patients.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we identified clinical as well as complete echocardiographic data from 128 chronic PAH patients to fully assess LV diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) using standard recommended Doppler guidelines.

Ularitide: a natriuretic peptide candidate for the treatment of acutely decompensated heart failure.

Treatment for acutely decompensated heart failure (ADHF) has not changed much in the last two decades. Currently available therapies have variable efficacy and can be associated with adverse outcomes. Natriuretic peptides properties include diuresis, natriuresis, vasorelaxation, inhibition of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and are thus chosen in the treatment of ADHF.

Importance of End-Diastolic Rather than End-Systolic Right Atrial Size in Chronic Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: Right atrial (RA) enlargement has been associated with worse clinical outcomes in chronic pulmonary hypertension (cPH) patients. Even though current guidelines only recommend measurement of RA dimensions at the end of ventricular systole in these patients, there is paucity of information regarding the potential utility of RA dimensions obtained at the end of ventricular diastole.

Methods: In this retrospective study, standard echocardiographic data were collected from 80 studies.