Publications by authors named "Joshua Germann"

Background: Non-invasive imaging markers in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) are still being investigated to inform clinical decision making. Atrial function is a prognostic indicator in many acquired and congenital heart diseases. We sought to examine the relationship between cardiac MRI (CMR)-derived indices of left atrial (LA) function, native left ventricular (LV) T1 values, biventricular systolic function, and exercise capacity in rTOF.

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Background Cardiac MRI (CMR) derived ventricular global function index (GFI), a ratio of stroke volume to the sum of mean ventricular cavity and myocardial volumes, has demonstrated improved prediction of clinical outcomes in adults with atherosclerotic disease over ejection fraction. We sought to assess CMR derived GFI and a novel modification that accounts for unique loading conditions in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) and determine its correlation with exercise performance. Methods and Results Seventy-five patients with rTOF who underwent CMR were identified.

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Purpose: To investigate right ventricular (RV) strain in patients without identified cardiac pathology using cardiac magnetic resonance tissue tracking (CMR TT).

Methods: A total of 50 consecutive patients with no identified cardiac pathology were analyzed. RV longitudinal and circumferential strain was assessed by CMR TT.

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Introduction: Right ventricular (RV) size and function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) have not been well described. Using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging we describe the relationship of RV and left ventricular (LV) size and function in a large DMD cohort.

Methods: Latest CMR scans of 272 patients consecutively seen at a single tertiary referral center (2011-2014) with skeletal muscle biopsy confirmed DMD were included.

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Left atrial (LA) size is a known predictor of adverse cardiovascular events. Echocardiography is the modality of choice for the evaluation of atrial size; however, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) remains the "gold standard." We sought to calculate atrial volumes using the area-length method by both echocardiography and cMRI and compare them with area-volume quantification by cMRI.

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The cardiac disease ubiquitously associated in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) has traditionally been considered a progressive dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, left ventricular (LV) dilatation as measured with cardiac MRI has not been a consistent finding in this population, even as circumferential strain (ε(cc)) declines with advancing disease. We hypothesized that a distinct pattern of changes in LV geometry, during the course of ε(cc) decline, distinguishes DMD associated heart disease from DCM.

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