Randomized Comparison of Allogeneic Versus Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Nonischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy: POSEIDON-DCM Trial.

Background: Although human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have been tested in ischemic cardiomyopathy, few studies exist in chronic nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM).

Objectives: The authors conducted a randomized comparison of safety and efficacy of autologous (auto) versus allogeneic (allo) bone marrow-derived hMSCs in NIDCM.

Methods: Thirty-seven patients were randomized to either allo- or auto-hMSCs in a 1:1 ratio.

Synergistic Effects of Combined Cell Therapy for Chronic Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Both bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and c-kit(+) cardiac stem cells (CSCs) improve left ventricular remodeling in porcine models and clinical trials. Using xenogeneic (human) cells in immunosuppressed animals with acute ischemic heart disease, we previously showed that these 2 cell types act synergistically.

Objectives: To more accurately model clinical applications for heart failure, this study tested whether the combination of autologous MSCs and CSCs produce greater improvement in cardiac performance than MSCs alone in a nonimmunosuppressed porcine model of chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Cardiac Physiology for Radiologists: Review of Relevant Physiology for Interpretation of Cardiac MR Imaging and CT.

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provide clinicians with important insights into cardiac physiology and pathology. However, not all radiologists understand the language and concepts of cardiac physiology that are used daily by cardiologists. This review article covers basic cardiac physiology as it relates to cardiac CT and MR imaging.

Effect of aging on human mesenchymal stem cell therapy in ischemic cardiomyopathy patients.

Background: The role of patient age in the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) is controversial.

Objectives: This study sought to determine whether the therapeutic effect of culture-expanded MSCs persists, even in older subjects.

Methods: Patients with ICM who received MSCs via transendocardial stem cell injection (TESI) as part of the TAC-HFT (Transendocardial Autologous Cells in Ischemic Heart Failure) (n = 19) and POSEIDON (Percutaneous Stem Cell Injection Delivery Effects on Neomyogenesis) (n = 30) clinical trials were divided into 2 age groups: younger than 60 and 60 years of age and older.

ECG-gated MDCT after aortic and mitral valve surgery.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to review the utility of ECG-gated MDCT in evaluating postsurgical findings in aortic and mitral valves. Normal and pathologic findings after aortic and mitral valve corrective surgery are shown in correlation with the findings of the traditionally used imaging modalities echocardiography and fluoroscopy to assist in accurate noninvasive anatomic and dynamic evaluation of postsurgical valvular abnormalities.

Conclusion: Because of its superior spatial and adequate temporal resolution, ECG-gated MDCT has emerged as a robust diagnostic tool in the evaluation and treatment of patients with postsurgical valvular abnormalities.

Radiographic and electrocardiography-gated noncontrast cardiac CT assessment of lead perforation: modality comparison and interobserver agreement.

Background: Pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator lead extraction may be required because of infection, malfunction, or breakage. The preprocedural identification of lead tip position may help ensure safe performance of the procedure.

Objective: To analyze the ability of chest radiography and CT imaging to characterize lead tip position and identify perforation in a population of patients who underwent lead extraction.

Does transendocardial injection of mesenchymal stem cells improve myocardial function locally or globally?: An analysis from the Percutaneous Stem Cell Injection Delivery Effects on Neomyogenesis (POSEIDON) randomized trial.

Rationale: Transendocardial stem cell injection (TESI) with mesenchymal stem cells improves remodeling in chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy, but the effect of the injection site remains unknown.

Objective: To address whether TESI exerts its effects at the site of injection only or also in remote areas, we hypothesized that segmental myocardial scar and segmental ejection fraction improve to a greater extent in injected than in noninjected segments.

Methods And Results: Biplane ventriculographic and endocardial tracings were recorded.

Transendocardial mesenchymal stem cells and mononuclear bone marrow cells for ischemic cardiomyopathy: the TAC-HFT randomized trial.

Importance: Whether culture-expanded mesenchymal stem cells or whole bone marrow mononuclear cells are safe and effective in chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy is controversial.

Objective: To demonstrate the safety of transendocardial stem cell injection with autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMCs) in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Design, Setting, And Patients: A phase 1 and 2 randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled study involving 65 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction less than 50% (September 1, 2009-July 12, 2013).

Comparison of allogeneic vs autologous bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells delivered by transendocardial injection in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy: the POSEIDON randomized trial.

Context: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are under evaluation as a therapy for ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). Both autologous and allogeneic MSC therapies are possible; however, their safety and efficacy have not been compared.

Objective: To test whether allogeneic MSCs are as safe and effective as autologous MSCs in patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction due to ICM.

Multidetector computed tomography diagnosis and cine imaging of left main coronary arterial dissection.

Coronary artery dissection (CD) is a rare cause of acute myocardial ischemia. It is often diagnosed by invasive coronary angiography, which is the principal diagnostic tool and gold standard in the diagnosis and triage of patients with CD. More recently, electrocardiogram-gated multidetector computerized tomography has emerged as a complementary imaging tool primarily for follow-up purposes.

Safety of serial MRI in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

Objective: While patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices could benefit from magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, the presence of such devices has been designated as an absolute contraindication to MR. Although scanning algorithms are proposed for cardiac implantable electronic devices, their safety remains uncertain. To address this issue, the safety of serial cardiac MR scans was evaluated in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs).

Primary systemic amyloidosis presenting as constrictive pericarditis.

The most frequent presentation of cardiac amyloidosis is with endomyocardial deposition, and resultant restrictive cardiomyopathy. We present a case of primary systemic amyloidosis causing constrictive pericarditis (CP) and congestive heart failure without clinical evidence of endomyocardial deposition. A comprehensive evaluation by noninvasive and invasive studies facilitated the differentiation of CP from restrictive cardiomyopathy and the patient was effectively treated with pericardectomy.

Danon disease: characteristic late gadolinium enhancement pattern on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Danon disease is a rare entity associated with the clinical triad of mental retardation, skeletal myopathy, and severe hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We report two cases of Danon disease and describe the results of the cardiac magnetic resonance imaging studies that were conducted to assess the pattern of cardiac hypertrophy.

Interatrial septal aneurysm and patent foramen ovale: diagnosis and dynamic evaluation with electrocardiogram-gated multidetector-row computed tomography imaging.

We describe an elderly woman with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who was evaluated by electrocardiogram-gated multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) prior to left atrial radiofrequency ablation therapy to rule out coronary artery disease and to obtain a 3-dimensional anatomical map of the left atrium and pulmonary veins. MDCT documented the dynamic bidirectional motion of an interatrial septal aneurysm associated with a patent foramen ovale. MDCT findings correlated well with transesophageal and intracardiac echocardiograms.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: utility of cardiac computed tomography angiography for acute diagnosis.

Takotsubo (stress) cardiomyopathy may present as acute cardiovascular collapse, simulating an acute coronary syndrome or other emergencies such as pulmonary embolism or aortic dissection. The diagnosis relies on demonstration of characteristic wall motion abnormalities in the absence of obstructive coronary lesions and is typically diagnosed with cardiac catheterization. Cardiac computed tomography angiography is well suited to use in the emergency setting to diagnose or exclude thoracic cardiovascular events.

Comprehensive evaluation of Kawasaki disease with electrocardiogram-gated cardiac multidetector computed tomography.

We present a case of a young woman with Kawasaki disease who was comprehensively evaluated by electrocardiograph-gated cardiac multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). MDCT disclosed 3-vessel giant coronary arterial aneurysms and associated focal apical septal myocardial pathology. This was characterized by an early enhancement defect, myocardial thinning, and hypokinesia.

Pitfalls in the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism on spiral computer tomography.

Spiral computer tomography (CT) has become a widely accepted clinical tool in the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism. The accuracy of computed tomography in diagnosing pulmonary embolism has increased over the past 10 years, parallel to technological improvements. However, as with most imaging techniques, interpretative pitfalls may occur for a variety of reasons.

Multislice CT in thoracic trauma.

The introduction of CT imaging in the 1970s revolutionized all aspects of medical care, perhaps nowhere more so than in the evaluation of acutely injured patients. Just as single-slice helical scanning was a great advance over conventional CT, the capabilities of MSCT are proving to be dramatically superior to single-slice methods. Improved contrast bolus imaging, thinner slices, and isotropic voxels should enable the trauma radiologist to identify both major organ system disruption and subtle injuries more promptly.

MR evaluation of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in pediatric patients.

Objective: The aim of our study was to correlate the findings of three MR imaging sequences with the clinical findings of possible arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in pediatric patients.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-six consecutive pediatric patients underwent MR imaging with ECG-gated non-breath-hold spin-echo T1-weighted non-fat-suppressed and fat-suppressed sequences. The MR images were evaluated for thinning or fat signal in the right ventricular wall and for enlargement or increased trabeculation of the right ventricle or right ventricular outflow tract.

US-guided core-needle biopsy of the breast: how many specimens are necessary?

Purpose: To analyze the diagnostic yield for each specimen obtained at 14-gauge ultrasonography (US)-guided breast biopsy and compare these findings with mass, procedural, and specimen characteristics that could affect yield.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-three consecutive biopsies of breast masses were performed by using a 14-gauge handheld biopsy device. Each specimen was graded for whether it was nonfragmented or fragmented and for whether it sank or floated, and each pass was graded for whether or not the needle passed through the lesion.