Color Doppler Aliasing: Unmasking the Diagnosis of Cardiac Rosai-Dorfman.

• Multimodality imaging of cardiac masses is needed for comprehensive evaluation. • Isolated cardiac RDD is reported to occur in 0.1% to 0.

Pericardial effusion and systemic capillary leak syndrome late post-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

We report an interesting case of pericardial effusion associated with idiopathic systemic capillary leak syndrome (ISCLS) following administration of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. This patient initially presented with dyspnoea and chest pain, with non-pitting oedema and clear lung fields. The diagnosis of ISCLS was made based on the clinical syndrome and laboratory evidence of polycythaemia and hypoalbuminaemia.

The Need for Telemedicine Integration Into Adult Cardiology Training Curricula in Canada.

COVID-19 brought telemedicine to the forefront of clinical cardiology. We aimed to examine the extent of trainees' involvement in and comfort with telemedicine practices in Canada with the use of a web-based self-administered survey. Eighty-six trainees from 12 training programs completed the survey (65% response rate).

Automated estimation of echocardiogram image quality in hospitalized patients.

We developed a machine learning model for efficient analysis of echocardiographic image quality in hospitalized patients. This study applied a machine learning model for automated transthoracic echo (TTE) image quality scoring in three inpatient groups. Our objectives were: (1) Assess the feasibility of a machine learning model for echo image quality analysis, (2) Establish the comprehensiveness of real-world TTE reporting by clinical group, and (3) Determine the relationship between machine learning image quality and comprehensiveness of TTE reporting.

Closing gigantic left atrial appendage using a LAmbre Closure System: First implant experience in North America.

Introduction: Despite maturing experience and growing procedural familiarity, there remain challenges in percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) closure due to anatomical complexities.

Methods: We report a complex and extremely large LAA that was successfully closed percutaneously using a LAmbre Closure System (Lifetech Scientific Corp.).

High rate of hypertension in patients with m.3243A>G MELAS mutations and POLG variants.

Animal studies suggest that decreased vascular mitochondrial DNA copy number can promote hypertension. We conducted a chart review of blood pressure and hemodynamics in patients with either mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS, n = 36) or individuals with variants in the mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma (POLG, n = 26). The latter included both pathogenic variants and variants of unknown significance (VUS).

Association Between Echocardiography Laboratory Accreditation and the Quality of Imaging and Reporting for Valvular Heart Disease.

Background: It is presumed that echocardiographic laboratory accreditation leads to improved quality, but there are few data. We sought to compare the quality of echocardiographic examinations performed at accredited versus nonaccredited laboratories for the evaluation of valvular heart disease.

Methods And Results: We enrolled 335 consecutive valvular heart disease subjects who underwent echocardiography at our institution and an external accredited or nonaccredited institution within 6 months.

Usefulness of the Atrial Emptying Fraction to Predict Maintenance of Sinus Rhythm After Direct Current Cardioversion for Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial volumes indexed to body surface area (AVI) are robust predictors of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after direct current cardioversion (DCCV). The incremental value of atrial emptying fraction (EmF) compared with atrial volumes as a predictor for recurrent AF after DCCV has not been evaluated. We sought to compare the predictive ability of baseline left atrial (LA) EmF, right atrial (RA) EmF, LAVI, and RAVI for post-DCCV AF recurrence at 6 months.

Quadricuspid Aortic Valve: Characteristics, Associated Structural Cardiovascular Abnormalities, and Clinical Outcomes.

Background: Quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) is a rare congenital cardiac defect. This study sought to determine QAV frequency in a large echocardiography database, to characterize associated cardiovascular abnormalities, and to describe long-term outcomes.

Methods And Results: Fifty patients (mean ± SD age, 43.

Exercise-induced changes in cardiovascular function after stroke: a randomized controlled trial.

Background And Aims: Cardiovascular co-morbidities are prevalent after stroke, with heart disease, hypertension and impaired glucose tolerance present in the majority of cases. Exercise has the potential to mediate cardiovascular risk factors commonly present in people with stroke. This single-blinded randomized controlled trial compared the effects of high versus low intensity exercise on fitness, cardiovascular risk factors, and cardiac function after stroke.

Left atrial volume: clinical value revisited.

Left atrial (LA) volume and function are robust markers of cardiovascular risks and adverse cardiac outcomes. With advances in imaging technology, including tissue Doppler, strain, and strain rate imaging, we can now determine LA volume and function more precisely and this is anticipated to augment our ability to risk stratify, incremental to clinical risk profiling. There is increasing evidence that LA remodeling is treatable and is reversible.

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is activated by noradrenaline and serves a cardioprotective role, whereas adrenaline induces p38 MAPK dephosphorylation.

1. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) in mediating the effect of noradrenaline (NA) on cardiomyocyte cell viability. 2.

Interaction of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor lovastatin and nitric oxide in cardiomyocyte cell death.

Aim: The objective of this study was to examine the interaction ofa 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor (statin) with a nitric oxide (NO) donor from the perspective of the impact on cardiomyocyte cell viability.

Methods: Embryonic chick cardiomyocytes in culture were treated with a wide range of concentrations of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), which releases NO and also generates toxic reactive nitrogen species. SNP was combined with the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor lovastatin and cell viability was assessed by the MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] assay.

The action of nitric oxide to enhance cell survival in chick cardiomyocytes is mediated through a cGMP and ERK1/2 pathway while p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent pathways do not alter cell death.

The objective of this study was to determine whether the dual action of nitric oxide (NO) on cardiomyocyte cell viability is mediated through p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-induced cell death and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2)-mediated cell survival pathways, and whether either of these is mediated through a cGMP-protein kinase G (PKG) pathway. Cell viability of embryonic chick cardiomyocytes was assessed by the MTT assay, which is based on the ability of viable cells to reduce 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide. The NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) produced a significant (P < 0.

Sodium nitroprusside activates p38 mitogen activated protein kinase through a cGMP/PKG independent mechanism.

The objective of this study was to understand the mechanism of action of nitric oxide (NO) in the heart by determining whether nitric oxide (NO) released from sodium nitroprusside (SNP) induces p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) phosphorylation and whether this is mediated through a cyclic GMP (cGMP)/protein kinase G (PKG) pathway. p38 MAPK activation was examined by Western blotting of whole cell lysates of embryonic chick cardiomyocytes with antibodies specific to the native or phosphorylated forms of p38 MAPK. SNP, 1 mM, which released significant amounts of NO as determined by Griess reaction, induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation that was apparent within 10 min, was significantly (p<0.

Aortic valve sclerosis is associated with an echocardiographically determined thinner aortic wall.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The aortic valve leaflets plus the aorta and sinuses of Valsalva are a functional unit that optimizes distribution of the diastolic pressure load on the aortic valve leaflets. The study aim was to examine the hypothesis that echocardiographically measured parameters of aortic wall stress at the level of the sinuses of Valsalva, namely aortic wall thickness and luminal diameter, are associated with the presence of aortic valve sclerosis (AVS).

Methods: Among 103 patients (age range 60-70 years) referred for echocardiography at a university hospital, 59 with AVS were compared to an age-matched control group (n = 44) with no echocardiographic abnormalities.

Palmitate increases nitric oxide synthase activity that is involved in palmitate-induced cell death in cardiomyocytes.

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is subjected to regulatory control by palmitate, and that nitric oxide (NO) is operative in palmitate-induced cell death. Palmitate induced a significant ( p<0.05 ) concentration-dependent increase in NOS activity measured by the conversion of [(3)H]arginine to [3H]citrulline in embryonic chick cardiomyocytes.