The effect of excessive trabeculation on cardiac rotation-A multimodal imaging study.

Background: Cardiac rotational parameters in primary symptomatic left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are not well understood. We aimed to analyze cardiac rotation measured with cardiac magnetic resonance feature-tracking (CMR-FT) and speckle-tracking echocardiography (Echo-ST) in LVNC morphology subjects with preserved LVEF and different genotypes and healthy controls.

Methods: Our retrospective study included 54 LVNC subjects with preserved LVEF and 54 control individuals.

Genetic, clinical and imaging implications of a noncompaction phenotype population with preserved ejection fraction.

Introduction: The genotype of symptomatic left ventricular noncompaction phenotype (LVNC) subjects with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and its effect on clinical presentation are less well studied. We aimed to characterize the genetic, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and clinical background, and genotype-phenotype relationship in LVNC with preserved LVEF.

Methods: We included 54 symptomatic LVNC individuals (LVEF: 65 ± 5%) whose samples were analyzed with a 174-gene next-generation sequencing panel and 54 control (C) subjects.

Highlights of right ventricular characteristics of left ventricular noncompaction using 3D echocardiography.

The aspects of right ventricular volumes and function investigated with 3D echocardiography in a large cohort of left ventricular noncompaction morphology (LVNC) population remains unclear. The objective of our research was to study the left (LV) and right (RV) ventricular parameters using 3D echocardiography and analyze the clinical features of a LVNC population with preserved LV ejection fraction (EF > 50 %) in comparison with healthy controls (HC). We selected 41 LVNC subjects with preserved LV function (EF: 52.

Characteristics of the right ventricle in left ventricular noncompaction with reduced ejection fraction in the light of dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Reports of left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) rarely include descriptions of the right ventricle (RV). This study aimed to describe the characteristics of the RV in LVNC patients with reduced LV function (LVNC-R) compared with patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and subjects with LVNC with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LV-EF) (LVNC-N).

Methods: Forty-four LVNC-R patients, 44 LVNC-N participants, and 31 DCM patients were included in this retrospective study (LV-EF: LVNC-R: 33.

Different methods, different results? Threshold-based versus conventional contouring techniques in clinical practice.

Background: The quantitative differences of left and right ventricular (LV, RV) parameters of using different cardiac MRI (CMR) post-processing techniques and their clinical impact are less studied. We aimed to assess the differences and their clinical impact between the conventional contouring (CC) and the threshold-based (TB) methods using 70% and 50% thresholds in different hypertrabeculated conditions.

Methods: This retrospective study included 30 dilated cardiomyopathy, 30 left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC), 30 arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy patients, 30 healthy athletes and 30 healthy volunteers.

Cardiopulmonary examinations of athletes returning to high-intensity sport activity following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

After SARS-CoV-2 infection, strict recommendations for return-to-sport were published. However, data are insufficient about the long-term effects on athletic performance. After suffering SARS-CoV-2 infection, and returning to maximal-intensity trainings, control examinations were performed with vita-maxima cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).

Short and mid-term characteristics of COVID-19 disease course in athletes: A high-volume, single-center study.

Introduction: At the pandemic's beginning, significant concern has risen about the prevalence of myocardial involvement after SARS-CoV-2 infection. We assessed the cardiovascular burden of SARS-CoV-2 in a large cohort of athletes and identified factors that might affect the disease course. We included 633 athletes in our study on whom we performed extensive cardiology examinations after recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Impact of Right Ventricular Trabeculation on Right Ventricular Function in Patients With Left Ventricular Non-compaction Phenotype.

Right ventricular (RV) involvement in left ventricular (LV) non-compaction (LVNC) remains unknown. We aimed to describe the RV volumetric, functional, and strain characteristics and clinical features of patients with LVNC phenotype and good LV ejection fraction (EF) using cardiac magnetic resonance to characterize RV trabeculation in LVNC and to study the relationships of RV and LV trabeculation with RV volume and function. This retrospective study included 100 Caucasian patients with LVNC phenotype and good LV-EF and 100 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

MR -specific characteristics of left ventricular noncompaction and dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: The differentiation of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a recurring issue during cardiac imaging processes; thus, we aimed to compare the left ventricular (LV) cardiac MRI characteristics of these patients.

Methods: Thirty-one nonischemic DCM patients, 42 LVNC patients with reduced ejection fraction and 42 healthy controls were included in this retrospective study. LV volumetric, functional and myocardial mass parameters were measured with a threshold-based technique, while global and segmental strain values and rotational patterns were analyzed with feature-tracking strain analysis.

Frequent Constriction-Like Echocardiographic Findings in Elite Athletes Following Mild COVID-19: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

The cardiovascular effects of SARS-CoV-2 in elite athletes are still a matter of debate. Accordingly, we sought to perform a comprehensive echocardiographic characterization of post-COVID athletes by comparing them to a non-COVID athlete cohort. 107 elite athletes with COVID-19 were prospectively enrolled (P-CA; 23 ± 6 years, 23% female) 107 healthy athletes were selected as a control group using propensity score matching (N-CA).

Age- and Sex-Specific Characteristics of Right Ventricular Compacted and Non-compacted Myocardium by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance.

The age and sex-specific characteristics of right ventricular compacted (RV-CMi) and RV-trabeculated myocardial mass (RV-TMi) and the determinants of RV myocardium are less well-studied; however, in different conditions, these might provide additional diagnostic information. We aimed to describe the age- and sex-specific characteristics of RV-CMi, RV-TMi, and RV volumetric and functional parameters and investigate the determinants of RV myocardial mass with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Two hundred healthy Caucasian volunteers free of known cardiovascular or systemic diseases were prospectively enrolled in this study.

Sex- and age- specific normal values of left ventricular functional and myocardial mass parameters using threshold-based trabeculae quantification.

Background: The threshold-based (TB) trabeculated and papillary muscle mass (TPM) quantification method for cardiac MRI (CMR) calculates different values than conventional contouring techniques. We aimed to identify the sex- and age-related normal reference ranges for left ventricular (LV) myocardial mass values, volumetric and functional parameters and the correspondence of these parameters using the TB method.

Methods: Healthy European adults (n = 200, age: 39.

Left ventricular characteristics of noncompaction phenotype patients with good ejection fraction measured with cardiac magnetic resonance.

Objective: We describe left ventricular (LV) volumes, myocardial and trabeculated muscle mass and strains with Cardiac magnetic resonance of a large cohort (n=81) who fulfilled the morphologic criteria of left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) and had good ejection fraction (EF >55%) and compare them with healthy controls (n=81). Male and female patients were compared to matched controls and to each other. We also investigated the LV trabeculated muscle mass cutoff in male and female patients with LVNC.

Changes in strain parameters at different deterioration levels of left ventricular function: A cardiac magnetic resonance feature-tracking study of patients with left ventricular noncompaction.

Background: There is a lack of cardiac MRI information on left ventricular (LV) strain and rotational parameters of left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) patients with reduced ejection fraction (EF). Thus, we sought to use feature tracking (FT) to describe these changes at different levels of EF deterioration.

Methods: We included 31 adult LVNC patients with reduced LV EF (Group B, EF < 50%) without any comorbidities or concomitant cardiac diseases, 31 age- and sex-matched LVNC patients with good EF (Group A, EF > 50%) and 31 healthy controls.

The effect of contrast agents on left ventricular parameters calculated by a threshold-based software module: does it truly matter?

The acquisition of short-axis (SA) cine magnetic resonance (MR) images after the administration of contrast agent (CA) is a common, time-saving technique, but a decreased difference in the blood-myocardium contrast on these steady-state free precession (SSFP) cine scans could change the calculated parameters when using threshold-based papillary and trabecular muscle (PTM) quantification. We studied the effect of CA on the parameters calculated from pre- and post-CA SA cine images in noncompaction cardiomyopathy (NC-CMP) and healthy (H) participants using a threshold-based module. A total of 39 individuals (20 patients and 19 healthy) were included prospectively in this study.

Ranibizumab pretreatment in diabetic vitrectomy: a pilot randomised controlled trial (the RaDiVit study).

PurposeOur aim was to evaluate the impact of intravitreal ranibizumab pretreatment on the outcome of vitrectomy surgery for advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The objective was to determine the feasibility of a subsequent definitive trial and estimate the effect size and variability of the outcome measure.Patients and methodsWe performed a pilot randomised double-masked single-centre clinical trial in 30 participants with tractional retinal detachment associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Radon contribution to the total effective dose of uranium miners.

Exposure to radon and its decay products is one of the three parts that create the total effective dose of uranium miners. Photons from gamma radiation and exposition to long-lived alpha emitters which are members of uranium family are the other two parts. The monthly total effective dose of uranium miners in mine Rozna I (Czech republic) is determined by the personal dosemeter ALGADE, which ensures the continual individual monitoring of all three parts.

Long-term patency of a RaK collagen vascular prosthesis - single centre results during a 10 year follow-up.

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the results of vascular operations based on the RaK prostheses, with a particular attention paid to their long-term patency. The study included 105 patients who were operated on in the period from 1992 to 1996. Vascular surgery was performed in the aortofemoral area and the underlying diagnoses were Leriche syndrome, asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm, iliac artery stenosis or occlusion and symptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Cataract progression in macular hole cases: results with vitrectomy or with observation.

Purpose: To quantify the difference in progression of nuclear sclerotic cataract using Scheimpflug image analysis in patients with idiopathic full-thickness macular hole who were randomized to have vitrectomy and gas tamponade or to be observed.

Setting: Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom.

Design: Prospective randomized placebo-controlled masked clinical trial.

Pilot randomised controlled trial of face-down positioning following macular hole surgery.

Objective: This was a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) to investigate the effect of post-operative face-down positioning on the outcome of macular hole surgery and to inform the design of a larger definitive study.

Methods: In all, 30 phakic eyes of 30 subjects with idiopathic full-thickness macular holes underwent vitrectomy with dye-assisted peeling of the ILM and 14% perfluoropropane gas. Subjects were randomly allocated to posture face down for 10 days (posturing group) or to avoid a face-up position only (non-posturing group).

Intraocular oxygen distribution in advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: To determine the preretinal distribution of oxygen in advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and to investigate the relationship between intraocular oxygen tensions and vitreous cytokine concentrations.

Design: Comparative cross-sectional study.

Methods: Oxygen levels were measured at sites in the vitreous and at the inner retinal surface using an optical oxygen sensor in 14 control subjects and in 14 subjects with advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy who had developed tractional retinal detachments despite previous panretinal photocoagulation.

A review of exposures to radon, long-lived radionuclides and external gamma at the Czech uranium mine.

This paper presents the results of the personal exposure monitoring conducted in the RoŽná uranium mine in the Czech Republic. In this mine, which has been operated since the late 1950s, personal ALGADE dosemeters have been used since 1998. A group of 600 miners employed during the period 2000-09 has been analysed.

Assessment of the total effective dose of miners in the underground Rožná Uranium Mine in the Czech Republic during the period 2004-2009.

The paper discusses the situation in the Czech Republic regarding past and present uranium mining activities with emphasis on the evaluation of the exposure of underground miners in the Rožná Uranium Mine, which is currently the only active mine in the country and practically in the entire European Union. The total effective dose has been summarised taking into account all three major components, namely radon short-lived decay products, long-lived alpha emitters in ore dust and penetrating external gamma radiation. The average and maximum values of the effective dose as well as the collective effective dose of underground miners are also presented.

Macular edema--rationale for therapy.

Blood-retinal barrier breakdown with macular edema is caused by many diseases, which modulate--via different growth factors--the integrity of the tight junctions. Starling's law predicts furthermore that macular edema will develop if the hydrostatic pressure gradient between capillary and retinal tissue is increased, for example in the presence of elevated blood pressure, or if the osmotic pressure gradient is decreased, for example when protein accumulates excessively in the extracellular space within the retina. The rationale for clinical treatment of macular edema is based on the understanding and the inhibition of these pathophysiological mechanisms.