Evaluation of unmanned aerial vehicle for effective spraying application in coconut plantations.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) pesticide application in recent years owing to its importance such as time saving, reduction in human drudgery and also reduction in pesticides application rate. UAV has a great potential to address the problem involved in manual chemicals spraying in tall crops like coconut plantation where at present operation performed by manual climbing involves lots of drudgery and life risk. The current study aimed to understand the most influencing spraying parameters, such as spray height and spray time of the UAV sprayer on droplet characteristics such as spray droplet size, spray coverage and spray deposition at different layers (spindle, middle and bottom) of coconut tree canopy.

Twelve-Lead ECG Optimization of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Patients With and Without Delayed Enhancement on Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Background Delayed enhancement ( DE ) on magnetic resonance imaging is associated with ventricular arrhythmias, adverse events, and worse left ventricular mechanics. We investigated the impact of DE on cardiac resynchronization therapy ( CRT ) outcomes and the effect of CRT optimization. Methods and Results We studied 130 patients with ejection fraction ( EF ) ≤40% and QRS ≥120 ms, contrast cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and both pre- and 1-year post- CRT echocardiograms.

Lead Extraction Imaging.

Lead extraction procedures have a low but real risk of major complications, such as superior vena cava tear and cardiac tamponade. Complications during lead removal are commonly related to lead binding sites, lead malposition, and lead perforation. Lead extraction imaging may indicate lead vascular binding sites, lead position, and perforation.

LGE Provides Incremental Prognostic Information Over Serum Biomarkers in AL Cardiac Amyloidosis.

Objectives: This study sought to determine the prognostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in amyloid light chain (AL) cardiac amyloidosis.

Background: Cardiac involvement is the major determinant of mortality in AL amyloidosis. CMR LGE is a marker of amyloid infiltration of the myocardium.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging pericardial late gadolinium enhancement and elevated inflammatory markers can predict the reversibility of constrictive pericarditis after antiinflammatory medical therapy: a pilot study.

Background: Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is a disabling disease, and usually requires pericardiectomy to relieve heart failure. Reversible CP has been described, but there is no known method to predict the reversibility. Pericardial inflammation may be a marker for reversibility.

Utility of transthoracic echocardiography to estimate severity of right ventricular dysfunction: an MRI comparison study.

Prognostic implications of severe right ventricular (RV) dysfunction are difficult to assess because of limitations in functional characterization using standard echocardiography (TTE) and the cost and availability of options such as MRI. We sought to determine how assessments of RV dysfunction via TTE correlate with RV ejection fraction (EF) by MRI. Patients undergoing MRI and TTE within 21 days of one another were included.

ECG-gated dual-source CT for detection of left atrial appendage thrombus in patients undergoing catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Purpose: Left atrial ablation is increasingly used to treat patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). Prior to ablation, exclusion of left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus is important. Whether ECG-gated dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) provides a sensitive means of detecting LAA thrombus in patients undergoing percutaneous AF ablation is unknown.

Role of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in the detection of cardiac amyloidosis.

Objectives: Our aim was to evaluate the role and mechanism of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in identifying cardiac amyloidosis (CA) and to investigate associations between LGE and clinical, morphologic, functional, and biochemical features.

Background: CA can be challenging to diagnose by echocardiography. Recent studies have demonstrated an emerging role for LGE-CMR.

Valsalva sinus aneurysms: findings at CT and MR imaging.

Aneurysms of the Valsalva sinus (aortic sinus) can be congenital or acquired and are rare. They are more common among men than women and among Asians than other ethnic groups. Nonruptured aneurysms may be asymptomatic and incidentally discovered, or they may be symptomatic and manifest acutely with mass effect on adjacent cardiac structures.

Echocardiographic features of cardiac amyloidosis presenting as endomyocardial disease in a 54-year-old male.

Although primary cardiac amyloidosis is a rare affliction of the heart, its clinical and pathology features have been well described. Patients generally present with exertional dyspnea, chest discomfort, or congestive heart failure. Cardiac imaging typically reveals ventricular wall thickening, systolic and diastolic dysfunction, valvular thickening, and pericardial effusion.

Intracardiac thrombosis and anticoagulation therapy in cardiac amyloidosis.

Background: Primary amyloidosis has a poor prognosis as a result of frequent cardiac involvement. We recently reported a high prevalence of intracardiac thrombus in cardiac amyloid patients at autopsy. However, neither the prevalence nor the effect of anticoagulation on intracardiac thrombus has been evaluated antemortem.

Utility of nongated multidetector computed tomography for detection of left atrial thrombus in patients undergoing catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is able to exclude left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus in patients referred for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (CAAF).

Background: MDCT is commonly used to render pulmonary vein and left atrial anatomy before CAAF. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is also often performed before the ablation to exclude LAA thrombus.

Pulmonary embolism, right ventricular strain, and intracardiac thrombus-in-transit: Evaluation using comprehensive cardiothoracic computed tomography.

A 67-year-old woman presented with symptoms of exertional chest discomfort and dyspnea that had been progressive over the past few days. Her initial evaluation was significant of a mildly elevated troponin-T level and T-wave inversion in leads V(1)-V(2) on an electrocardiogram (ECG). Initial suspicion was for acute coronary syndrome.

Comparison of magnetic resonance imaging versus Doppler echocardiography for the evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function in patients with cardiac amyloidosis.

To assess the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the assessment of diastolic function, diastolic mitral inflow parameters using MRI and transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (echocardiography) were compared in patients with cardiac amyloidosis. Thirty-eight patients (age 60 +/- 12 years; 32% women) in sinus rhythm with cardiac amyloidosis (biopsy-proven systemic amyloidosis and positive echocardiographic and contrast-enhanced cardiac MRI findings) were evaluated. Cine phase-contrast MRI images of mitral inflow were obtained in the left ventricle to quantify diastolic blood flow.

Apical ballooning syndrome or aborted acute myocardial infarction? Insights from cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.

Introduction: Apical Ballooning Syndrome (ABS) is a novel acute cardiac syndrome that mimics acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study evaluates the diagnostic utility of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in patients with suspected ABS.

Methods And Materials: Contrast-enhanced CMR was performed in 13 consecutive patients with suspected ABS on the basis of their initial clinical presentation and cardiac catheterization results.

Myocardial contrast echocardiography in biopsy-proven primary cardiac amyloidosis.

Cardiac vasculature is affected in 88-90% of patients with primary cardiac amyloidosis (CA). Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) relies on the ultrasound detection of microbubble contrast agents that are solely confined to the intravascular space, and are therefore useful in the evaluation of flow in the microvasculature. This is the first case report describing the use of MCE during vasodilator stress to evaluate coronary flow reserve in a patient with biopsy-proven primary CA and angiographically normal coronaries.

MR imaging of the pericardium.

Imaging of the pericardium requires understanding of anatomy and the normal and abnormal physiology of the pericardium. MR imaging is well-suited for answering clinical questions regarding suspected pericardial disease. Pericardial diseases that may be effectively imaged with MR imaging include pericarditis, pericardial effusion, cardiac-pericardial tamponade, constrictive pericarditis, pericardial cysts, absence of the pericardium, and pericardial masses.

Cardiac MR imaging of nonischemic cardiomyopathies.

Cardiomyopathies, diseases of the myocardium associated with cardiac dysfunction, include hypertrophic, restrictive, and dilated forms and rare entities, such as arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, ventricular noncompaction, and apical ballooning syndrome. Many have similar presentations, but the underlying condition determines prognoses and treatment. Cardiac MR imaging plays a role in characterizing the range of entities and is crucial for evaluation and management.

MR imaging of cardiac masses.

Cardiac MR imaging is the preferred method for assessment of cardiac masses. A comprehensive cardiac MR imaging examination for a cardiac mass consists of static morphologic images using fast spin-echo sequences, including single-shot techniques, with T1 and T2 weighting and fat suppression pulses as well as dynamic imaging with cine steady-state free precession techniques. Further tissue characterization is provided with perfusion and delayed enhancement imaging.

Intracardiac thrombosis and embolism in patients with cardiac amyloidosis.

Background: Patients with primary amyloidosis (AL type) have a poor prognosis, in part due to frequent cardiac involvement. Although intracardiac thrombus has been reported in anecdotal cases, neither its frequency nor its role in causing mortality is known. Furthermore, the clinical and echocardiographic variables that may be associated with thromboembolism in cardiac amyloidosis have not been defined.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging of eosinophilic endomyocardial disease.

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is rare and frequently involves the heart with development of endomyocardial fibrosis, a characteristic restrictive cardiomyopathy. Non-invasive diagnosis is frequently challenging. Recent developments in cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging techniques offer potential for improved detection and characterization of this entity.

Electrocardiography cannot reliably differentiate transient left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome from anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Objective: The presentation and electrocardiographic (ECG) characteristics of transient left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome (TLVABS) can be similar to that of anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We tested the hypothesis that the ECG on presentation could reliably differentiate these syndromes.

Subjects And Methods: Between January 1, 2002 and July 31, 2004, we identified 18 consecutive patients with TLVABS who were matched with 36 subjects presenting with acute anterior STEMI due to atherothrombotic left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion.

Therapeutic angiogenesis: a biologic bypass.

The use of angiogenic factors to effect therapeutic angiogenesis may be an attractive treatment modality for a substantial number of patients who have diffuse coronary artery disease and who are not candidates for traditional revascularization procedures. Delivery of angiogenic factors as a protein or gene encoding for the respective protein product has been shown to induce angiogenesis in numerous animal models, and expression of a functioning product has been demonstrated. Various early clinical trials of therapeutic angiogenesis have shown reduction in anginal symptoms and increases in exercise time, as well as objective evidence of improved perfusion, left ventricular function and angiographic appearance following such angiogenic treatments.