Metabolomic profile of arterial stiffness in aged adults.

Background: Increasing arterial stiffness is an important contributor to declining cardiovascular health in ageing. Changes in whole-body fuel metabolism could be related to alterations in arterial stiffness in ageing adults.

Methods: Targeted high-performance liquid and gas chromatography mass spectrometry were used to measure 84 circulating metabolites in a group of community elderly adults ( n = 141, 58% men; mean age = 70.

Aortic Dilatation at Different Levels of the Ascending Aorta in Patients with Bicuspid Aortic Valve.

Introduction: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common form of adult congenital heart disease. When compared to patients with a normal trileaflet aortic valve, dilatation of the aortic root and the ascending aorta (Asc Ao) are the common findings in patients with BAV, with consequent higher risk of developing aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection and rupture. We aim to determine the site of the Asc Ao where maximum dilatation occurs in Asian adult patients with BAV.

Automated quantitative assessment of cardiovascular magnetic resonance-derived atrioventricular junction velocities.

The assessment of atrioventricular junction (AVJ) deformation plays an important role in evaluating left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in clinical practice. This study aims to demonstrate the effectiveness and consistency of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) for quantitative assessment of AVJ velocity compared with tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE). A group of 145 human subjects comprising 21 healthy volunteers, 8 patients with heart failure, 17 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 52 patients with myocardial infarction, and 47 patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot were prospectively enrolled and underwent TDE and CMR scan.

Left ventricular diastolic function assessment using time differences between mitral annular velocities and transmitral inflow velocities in patients with heart failure.

Background: Evaluation of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function is important in clinical echocardiography. The relationship between mitral annular velocities and transmitral inflow velocities provide additional information about LV filling and diastolic function. This study evaluates the relationships of time intervals between peaks E of mitral inflow velocities and E' of mitral annular velocities, and peaks A and A' in patients with heart failure (HF).

Endothelial function is associated with myocardial diastolic function in women with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Endothelial dysfunction is associated with traditional and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-specific risk factors, and early data suggest reversibility of endothelial dysfunction with therapy. The clinical relevance of endothelial function assessment has been limited by the lack of studies, demonstrating its prognostic significance and impact on early myocardial function. Therefore, we aimed to determine the association between endothelial and myocardial diastolic function in SLE women.

Pattern of aortic dilatation in different bicuspid aortic valve phenotypes and its association with aortic valvular dysfunction and elasticity.

Objectives: We aim to study the pattern of aortic dilatation in different BAV phenotypes and to find any correlations between aortic dilatation, aortic elasticity and AS and/or AR in our local population.

Methods: All BAV patients and controls were retrospectively studied. Aortic distensibility and stiffness index of the ascending aorta were calculated.