Echocardiography Abnormal Findings and Laboratory Operations during the COVID-19 Pandemic at a High Volume Center in New York City.

(1) Background: This study sought to explore how the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affected the echocardiography (TTE) laboratory operations at a high volume medical center in New York City. Changes in cardiac imaging study volume, turn-around time, and abnormal findings were analyzed and compared to a pre-pandemic period. (2) Methods: Volume of all cardiac imaging studies and TTE reports between 11 March 2020 to 5 May 2020 and the same calendar period in 2019 were retrospectively identified and compared.

Decisional regret in left ventricular assist device patient-caregiver dyads.

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate decisional regret among left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patients and their caregivers.

Methods: This study was a single center, cross-sectional survey of patients after LVAD implantation and their caregivers. Subjects were recruited at their outpatient heart failure appointments.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and the Heart: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are both manifestations of end-organ damage of the metabolic syndrome. Through multiple pathophysiological mechanisms, CVD and NAFLD are associated with each other. Systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, hepatic insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and altered lipid metabolism are some of the mechanisms by which NAFLD increases the risk of CVD.

Mechanisms underlying the J-curve for diastolic blood pressure: Subclinical myocardial injury and immune activation.

Background: Low diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. In patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), limitations in coronary blood flow and immune activity are implicated mechanisms, but evidence is lacking. We investigated the association between DBP, biomarkers of myocardial injury, inflammation, immune activation and incident events in patients with CAD.

Young Athlete With Complex Aneurysmal Coronary Stenosis.

Kawasaki disease is an acute vasculitis that occurs predominantly in infants and children younger than 5 years old. If undiagnosed and untreated, the risk of developing coronary artery aneurysms increases to about 20%. In patients who present with angina and are found to have coronary artery aneurysm on imaging and angiography, Kawasaki disease should be considered as one of the leading diagnoses.

Comprehensive primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in women.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains the leading cause of mortality in women. Historically, medical research has focused on male patients, and subsequently, there has been decreased awareness of the burden of ASCVD in females until recent years. The biological differences between sexes and differences in societal expectations defined by gender roles contribute to gender differences in ASCVD risk factors.