Phase Transition Kinetics in Austempered Ductile Iron (ADI) with Regard to Mo Content.

The phase transformation to ausferrite during austempered ductile iron (ADI) heat treatment can be significantly influenced by the alloying element Mo. Utilizing neutron diffraction, the phase transformation from austenite to ausferrite was monitored in-situ during the heat treatment. In addition to the phase volume fractions, the carbon enrichment of retained austenite was investigated.

Evaluation of Strain Transition Properties between Cast-In Fibre Bragg Gratings and Cast Aluminium during Uniaxial Straining.

Current testing methods are capable of measuring strain near the surface on structural parts, for example by using strain gauges. However, stress peaks often occur within the material and can only be approximated. An alternative strain measurement incorporates fibre-optical strain sensors (Fiber Bragg Gratings, FBG) which are able to determine strains within the material.

Epicardial adipose tissue in long-term hemodialysis patients: its association with vascular calcification and long-term development.

Background: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) in the general population. EAT is suggested to promote CAD by paracrine mechanisms and local inflammation. We evaluated whether in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients EAT associates with CAD, how the amount of EAT develops over time, and if EAT independently predicts the mortality risk.

Prevention of vasculopathy by vitamin K supplementation: can we turn fiction into fact?

With the discovery that vitamin K-dependent matrix Gla-protein (MGP) is a strong and modifiable factor in the prevention of arterial calcification, vitamin K was put forward as novel treatment option in cardiovascular disease. The vasculoprotective properties of vitamin K are in part based on the ability to improve gamma-glutamylcarboxylation of MGP, which is a prerequisite for MGP as a calcification inhibitor. Data from experimental animal models reveal that high intake of vitamin K can prevent and even reverse vascular calcifications.

Regional left ventricular function after transapical vs. transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation analysed by cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking.

Aims: This study analysed the impact of transapical (TA) vs. transfemoral (TF) access site transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) on post-procedural regional left ventricular (LV) function using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) feature tracking (FT).

Methods And Results: CMR was performed 3 months after TAVI on 44 consecutive patients with normal LV ejection fraction prior to TAVI.

Myocardial deformation imaging by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography for prediction of global and segmental functional changes after acute myocardial infarction: a comparison with late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance.

Background: Myocardial deformation analysis by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) has been shown to accurately predict viability in patients with chronic ischemic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate two-dimensional STE for the prediction of global and segmental LV functional changes after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in comparison with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).

Methods: In 93 patients (mean age, 60 ± 11 years) with first AMIs (55 with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions and 38 with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions) treated with acute percutaneous coronary intervention, global peak longitudinal strain was determined to describe global function by STE, and peak systolic circumferential and longitudinal strain was determined for segmental function analysis.

Sclerostin as a potential novel biomarker for aortic valve calcification: an in-vivo and ex-vivo study.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Sclerostin is a key negative regulator of bone formation. It was hypothesized that sclerostin might also play a potential role in the development of aortic valve calcification (AVC). The study aim was to evaluate serum sclerostin levels in patients with different degrees of AVC compared to a healthy control group, and to investigate local sclerostin expression in explanted calcified and non-calcified aortic valves.

Relationship between sclerostin and cardiovascular calcification in hemodialysis patients: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Sclerostin is a Wnt pathway antagonist regulating osteoblast activity and bone turnover. Here, we assessed the potential association of sclerostin with the development of coronary artery (CAC) and aortic valve calcifications (AVC) in haemodialysis (HD) patients.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional multi-slice computed tomography (MS-CT) scanning study in 67 chronic HD patients (59.

Impact of aortic valve calcification severity and impaired left ventricular function on 3-year results of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Objectives: To evaluate clinical pre-interventional predictors of 3-year outcome and mortality in high-risk patients with severe aortic valve stenosis treated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods: Among 367 patients included in the Aachen TAVI registry, 76 patients with baseline dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) for the quantification of aortic valve calcification (AVC) and a 3-year follow-up were identified.

Results: Survival at 30 days was 91 %, and it was 75 %, 66 % and 64 % at 1, 2 years and 3 years, respectively.

Layer-specific analysis of myocardial deformation for assessment of infarct transmurality: comparison of strain-encoded cardiovascular magnetic resonance with 2D speckle tracking echocardiography.

Aims: Separate analysis of endocardial and epicardial myocardial layer deformation has become possible using strain-encoded cardiovascular magnetic resonance (SENC) and 2D-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (Echo). This study evaluated and compared both modalities for the assessment of infarct transmurality as defined by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).

Methods And Results: In 29 patients (age 62.

Quantitative analysis of endocardial and epicardial left ventricular myocardial deformation-comparison of strain-encoded cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography.

Background: Quantitative analysis of segmental myocardial deformation of different myocardial layers has become possible using strain-encoded cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (SENC) and speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE). We evaluated and compared the quantitative analysis of myocardial deformation using SENC and STE.

Methods: In 44 patients (age 61 ± 13 years, 34 men), SENC by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging using a 1.

Layer-specific strain-encoded MRI for the evaluation of left ventricular function and infarct transmurality in patients with chronic coronary artery disease.

Background: The study aimed to evaluate whether layer-specific myocardial deformation imaging performed by strain-encoded imaging (SENC) allows quantification of regional left ventricular function and is related to scar transmurality defined by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (ceMRI) in patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: 50 patients (mean age 62 ± 10 years) with CAD underwent ceMRI. Regional myocardial function was evaluated semi-quantitatively from steady-state free-precession cine sequences.

Thirty-day outcome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation compared with surgical valve replacement in patients with high-risk aortic stenosis: a matched comparison.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become a therapeutic alternative to surgery for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis in high-surgical risk patients. The aim of this study was to compare 30-day mortality of high-risk patients treated by TAVI versus surgical aortic valve replacement.

Methods: A total of 175 patients (60 men; mean age, 80±6 years; Euroscore 21±13%) having undergone TAVI were compared with 175 matched patients (76 men; mean age, 79±3 years; Euroscore 17±9%), which have undergone conventional aortic valve replacement and were deemed to be high-risk patients by the cardiothoracic surgeons.

Minireview: Putting physiology back into estrogens' mechanism of action.

After decades of research, the mechanism by which estrogens stimulate the proliferation of epithelial cells in the endometrium and mammary gland, and in the carcinomas that arise in those tissues, is still not understood. Cells do not proliferate in response to 17β-estradiol (E2) alone, and although it is widely recognized that growth factors play a role in E2's proliferative effect, exactly how they are involved is unclear. It has long been known that the proliferation of endometrial epithelial cells is preceded by dramatic increases in blood flow and microvascular permeability, filling the subepithelial stroma with plasma and the proteins it contains, such as IGF-I, which is known to synergize with E2 in the induction of cell proliferation.

Aortic valve calcifications on chest films: how much calcium do I need?

Objective: Aortic valve calcifications (AVC) as seen on conventional chest films or on CT are associated with aortic valve stenosis (AVS). The absence of AVC on chest films does not exclude high grade AVS. The aim of this study was to analyse if there is a threshold for the detection of AVC from conventional chest films in patients suffering from high grade AVS.

Comparison of two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging techniques for measurement of aortic annulus diameters before transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Aims: Different two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques are used for procedure planning and selection of prosthesis size before transcatheter aortic valve implantation. This study sought to compare different 2D and 3D imaging techniques and determine the accuracy of 3D transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for accurate analysis of aortic annulus dimensions.

Methods: In 49 consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation angiography, 2D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), 2D and 3D TEE, and dual-source CT (DSCT) were performed to determine aortic annulus diameters.

Incidence and predictors of left bundle branch block after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and predictors of left bundle branch block (LBBB) after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) using CoreValve and Edwards SAPIEN prosthesis.

Methods: 154 consecutive patients (53 male, mean age 81 ± 7 years) with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis underwent TAVI. Transfemoral AVI (CoreValve) was performed in 72 patients (47%).

Layer-specific analysis of myocardial function for accurate prediction of reversible ischaemic dysfunction in intermediate viability defined by contrast-enhanced MRI.

Background: Contrast-enhanced MRI (ceMRI) has impaired accuracy in the prediction of functional recovery after revascularisation in cases of intermediate myocardial viability.

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of layer-specific myocardial deformation analysis for improvement in ischaemic dysfunction after revascularisation.

Methods: In 132 patients with ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction undergoing revascularisation, myocardial viability was assessed by pixel-tracking-derived myocardial deformation imaging and ceMRI.

Electrocardiographic and imaging predictors for permanent pacemaker requirement after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Pacemaker (PM) implantation is a possible requirement after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The study aim was to evaluate the electrocardiographic and imaging predictors of the need for PM implantation after TAVI.

Methods: A total of 80 consecutive patients (mean age 82 +/- 6 years) who had been referred for TAVI were included in the study.

[Benefit of cardiac examination in competitive sports].

The sudden and unexpected death in young athletes is always a tragic event. At the age < 35 years distinct structural cardiac disorders such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, inflammatory disorders, coronary artery anomalies, as well as conditions without structural cardiac abnormalities such as primary electrical diseases (Brugada's syndrome, long QT, short QT syndrome and catcholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia) are important causes of sudden death. At the age > 35 years coronary artery disease is the most common cause of cardiac death in athletes.

Evaluation of aortic root for definition of prosthesis size by magnetic resonance imaging and cardiac computed tomography: implications for transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: This study sought to compare cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) with dual source computed tomography (DSCT) for analysis of aortic root dimensions prior to transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). In addition, the potential impact of CMR and DSCT measurements on TAVI strategy defined by 2D-transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was evaluated.

Methods: Aortic root dimensions were measured using CMR and DSCT in 58 patients referred for evaluation of TAVI.

Functional cardiac MR imaging with true fast imaging with steady-state free precession before and after intravenous injection of contrast medium: comparison of image quality and accuracy.

Objective: To compare image quality and accuracy of left ventricular function of cine SSFP (steady-state free precession) images before and after injection of Gd-DTPA.

Methods: In 30 patients T1 times of LV blood and myocardium were measured before and after injection of 0.2 mmol/kg body weight Gd-DTPA.

Characterisation and potential diagnostic value of circulating matrix Gla protein (MGP) species.

Matrix γ-carboxyglutamate (Gla) protein (MGP) is an important local inhibitor of vascular calcification, which can undergo two post-translational modifications: vitamin K-dependent γ-glutamate carboxylation and serine phosphorylation. While carboxylation is thought to have effects upon binding of calcium-ions, phosphorylation is supposed to affect the cellular release of MGP. Since both modifications can be exerted incompletely, various MGP species can be detected in the circulation.

Long-term clinical outcome of sirolimus-eluting stent implantation in metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

Background: Patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) are at increased risk of cardiovascular events. The long-term effectiveness of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) in patients with MetS and in diabetic patients is not well defined.

Methods: 563 consecutive patients with 629 de novo coronary lesions (< 50 mm lesion length, reference diameter < 3.