Long-term clinical outcomes in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy versus hypertensive heart disease.

Background: For most patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the clinical course is considered relatively benign, similar to hypertensive heart disease (HHD). We compared the long-term outcomes in patients with HCM versus HHD from a large healthcare system database.

Methods: Data from SSM Virtual Data Warehouse were used to identify patients with a new diagnosis of either HCM or HHD who followed up in our system for at least 6 months.

Corynebacterium striatum-Induced Native Valve Infective Endocarditis in an Immunocompetent Patient.

is often considered a contaminant in blood cultures due to often being found colonizing skin and mucous membranes. This case displays infective endocarditis (IE) identified in an immunocompetent patient on a native valve. Despite treatment with vancomycin, the case was complicated by embolic infarcts to the spleen and left cerebellum along with the development of a perivalvular abscess.

Prognostic value of left atrial size and function by cardiac magnetic resonance in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

To evaluate left atrial (LA) function and strain parameters by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) and evaluate the association of these parameters with long-term clinical outcomes. We retrospectively included 92 patients with NICM and 50 subjects with no significant cardiovascular disease (control group). We calculated LA volumes using the Simpson area-length method to derive LA ejection fraction and expansion index.

Infective Endocarditis and Stroke in a Healthy Young Female.

complex includes the subspecies . The prevalence of systemic infection in humans with is scarce. We present a case of infective endocarditis complicated with hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke in a healthy 31-year-old woman.

Artificial Intelligence in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Its Current Role and Ongoing Challenges.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as a viable alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement, as accumulating clinical evidence has demonstrated its safety and efficacy. TAVR indications have expanded beyond high-risk or inoperable patients to include intermediate and low-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the field of cardiology, aiding in the interpretation of medical imaging and developing risk models for at-risk individuals and those with cardiac disease.

Low Contrast and Low kV CTA Before Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Systematic Review.

Background: Minimizing contrast dose and radiation exposure while maintaining image quality during computed tomography angiography (CTA) for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is desirable, but not well established. This systematic review compares image quality for low contrast and low kV CTA versus conventional CTA in patients with aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR planning.

Methods: We performed a systematic literature review to identify clinical studies comparing imaging strategies for patients with aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR planning.

Association of left atrial size and function by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with long term outcomes in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Left atrial (LA) function and strain are being investigated as markers of disease progression in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). To assess LA function and strain by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with HCM and evaluate the association of these parameters with long-term clinical outcomes. We retrospectively evaluated 50 HCM patients and 50 patients with no significant cardiovascular disease (control) who underwent clinically indicated cardiac MRI.

Comparison of LGE quantitation methods in cardiac sarcoidosis to predict clinical outcomes.

We sought to investigate the optimal method of quantifying late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We retrospectively studied 53 patients with CS. LGE quantitation was performed using (a) semi-automated segmentation using Signal Threshold versus Reference Mean (STRM) cutoffs of > 2, > 3 and > 5 standard deviations (SD); (b) full-width-half-max (FWHM) method and (c) manual segmentation (MS) of affected myocardial segments.

Association of Left Atrial Hemodynamics by Magnetic Resonance Imaging With Long-Term Outcomes in Patients With Cardiac Amyloidosis.

Background: Left atrial (LA) function and strain patterns by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been investigated as markers of several cardiovascular pathologies, including cardiac amyloidosis (CA). However, associations with clinical outcomes have not been investigated.

Purpose: To compare LA function and strain by MRI in CA patients to a matched cohort of patients without cardiovascular disease (CVD) and evaluate the association with long-term clinical outcomes in CA patients.

Association of left atrial strain by cardiovascular magnetic resonance with recurrence of atrial fibrillation following catheter ablation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a progressive condition, which is characterized by inflammation/fibrosis of left atrial (LA) wall, an increase in the LA size/volumes, and decrease in LA function. We sought to investigate the relationship of anatomical and functional parameters obtained by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), with AF recurrence in paroxysmal AF (pAF) patients after catheter ablation.

Methods: We studied 80 consecutive pAF patients referred for ablation, between January 2014 and December 2019, who underwent pre- and post-ablation CMR while in sinus rhythm.

Comparison of left atrial strain by feature-tracking cardiac magnetic resonance with speckle-tracking transthoracic echocardiography.

Left atrial (LA) strain is a novel non-invasive parameter for assessing LA hemodynamics and function. We sought to compare the intermodality differences between transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) derived LA strain, as well as reproducibility of strain measurements. We evaluated 70 subjects (mean age 42.

Index Admission and Thirty-Day Readmission Outcomes of Patients With Cancer Presenting With STEMI.

Background: National-level data of cancer patients' readmissions after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are lacking.

Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to compare the rates and causes of 30-day readmissions in patients with and without cancer.

Methods: Among patients admitted with STEMI in the United States National Readmission Database (NRD) from October 2015-December 2017, we identified patients with the diagnosis of active breast, colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer.

Baseline characteristics and outcomes of end-stage renal disease patients after in-hospital sudden cardiac arrest: a national perspective.

Purpose: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a well-recognized risk factor for the development of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). There is limited data on baseline characteristics and outcomes after an in-hospital SCA event in ESRD patients.

Methods: For the purpose of this study, data were obtained from the National Inpatient Sample from January 2007 to December 2017.

Depression and anxiety in patients with heart disease and/or cancer based on the National Health Interview Survey.

Depression and anxiety in patients with heart disease and/or cancer have been shown to affect quality of life, adherence with medical management, and prognosis. We investigated the association of the diagnoses of cancer, heart disease, or both with self-reported symptoms consistent with serious mental illness (SMI). We used the K6 score to identify self-reported symptoms consistent with SMI from patients' responses to the 2017 National Health Interview Survey.

CT assessment of the left atrial appendage post-transcatheter occlusion - A systematic review and meta analysis.

Background: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the standard imaging modality used to assess the left atrial appendage (LAA) after transcatheter device occlusion. Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) offers an alternative non-invasive modality in these patients. We aimed to conduct a comparison of the two modalities.

Eustachian valve endocarditis: Its presentation and clinical characteristics.

A 25-year-old female with history of intravenous drug abuse and tricuspid valve endocarditis presented for evaluation of recurrent endocarditis. Transthoracic echocardiography followed by transesophageal echocardiography revealed vegetation on the eustachian valve and was without evidence of vegetation on the tricuspid valve. Blood cultures were positive for methicillin-sensitive She was treated with six weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy but ultimately required tricuspid valve replacement due to severe tricuspid regurgitation.

Induced Hypothermia in Patients with Cardiac Arrest and a Non-shockable Rhythm: Meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis.

Background: Controversy surrounds utilization of induced hypothermia (IHT) in comatose cardiac arrest (CA) survivors with a non-shockable rhythm.

Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA) comparing IHT with no IHT approaches in patients with CA and a non-shockable rhythm. The primary outcome of interest was favorable neurological outcomes (FNO) defined using the Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) score of 1 or 2.

Double-Orifice Mitral Valve Associated with Bicuspid Aortic Valve and Primary Pulmonary Vein Stenosis.

• DOMV is a rare condition. • DOMV is often associated with other cardiac congenital anomalies. • DOMV is not always hemodynamically significant and is often discovered incidentally.

Non-invasive prediction of tissue Doppler-derived E/e' ratio using lung Doppler signals.

Aims: Lung Doppler signals (LDS) represent the radial movement of small pulmonary blood vessel walls, caused by pulse waves of cardiac origin. We sought to investigate the accuracy and prognostic value of LDS as a predictor of mitral valve early diastolic flow to annular velocity ratio (E/e'), in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

Methods And Results: We prospectively enrolled patients with ADHF (n = 99, mean age 65 ± 15 years, 61% males) who underwent echocardiographic and simultaneous LDS evaluation at hospital admission.

Association of preoperative duration of inotropy on prevalence of right ventricular failure following LVAD implantation.

Aims: 20% to 40% of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) device implantations are complicated by right ventricular (RV) failure that results in significant morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that the duration on milrinone infusion is an independent risk factor for RV failure following LVAD implantation.

Methods And Results: Retrospective demographic, clinical and hemodynamic data were collected on all adults with ACC/AHA stage D heart failure on intravenous milrinone who underwent LVAD implantation between 2012 and 2019.

In-hospital outcomes of percutaneous mitral valve repair in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: insights from the national inpatient sample database.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the in-hospital outcomes in patients with mitral regurgitation treated with percutaneous mitral valve repair (PMVR) among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Background: There is lack of data on the outcomes of PMVR for mitral regurgitation in patients with COPD.

Methods: We analyzed the national inpatient sample (NIS) database from January 2012 to December 2016.

Contemporary Trends in Native Valve Infective Endocarditis in United States (from the National Inpatient Sample Database).

Infective Endocarditis (IE) is associated with high mortality and morbidity. The data on contemporary trends and health care utilization remain scarce for IE. Consequently, we used the National Inpatient Sample database from 2002 to 2016 to study burden of IE.