2024 CSANZ Position Statement on Indications, Assessment and Monitoring of Structural and Valvular Heart Disease With Transthoracic Echocardiography in Adults.

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the most widely available and utilised imaging modality for the screening, diagnosis, and serial monitoring of all abnormalities related to cardiac structure or function. The primary objectives of this document are to provide (1) a guiding framework for treating clinicians of the acceptable indications for the initial and serial TTE assessments of the commonly encountered cardiovascular conditions in adults, and (2) the minimum required standard for TTE examinations and reporting for imaging service providers. The main areas covered within this Position Statement pertain to the TTE assessment of the left and right ventricles, valvular heart diseases, pericardial diseases, aortic diseases, infective endocarditis, cardiac masses, pulmonary hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases associated with cancer treatments or cardio-oncology.

Inhalation of particulate matter containing environmentally persistent free radicals induces endothelial dysfunction mediated via AhR activation at the air-blood interface.

Particulate matter (PM) containing environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFR) is formed by the incomplete combustion of organic wastes, resulting in the chemisorption of pollutants to the surface of PM containing redox-active transition metals. In prior studies in mice, EPFR inhalation impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation. These findings were associated with aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation in the alveolar type-II (AT-II) cells that form the air-blood interface in the lung.

Cardioprotection Using Strain-Guided Management of Potentially Cardiotoxic Cancer Therapy: 3-Year Results of the SUCCOUR Trial.

Background: Global longitudinal strain (GLS) can predict cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction and guide initiation of cardioprotection (CPT).

Objectives: In this study, the authors sought to determine whether echocardiography GLS-guided CPT provides less cardiac dysfunction in survivors of potentially cardiotoxic chemotherapy, compared with usual care at 3 years.

Methods: In this international multicenter prospective randomized controlled trial, patients were enrolled from 28 international sites.

Prognostic Value of Exercise Capacity in Kidney Transplant Candidates.

Background Exercise stress testing for cardiovascular assessment in kidney transplant candidates has been shown to be a feasible alternative to pharmacologic methods. Exercise stress testing allows the additional assessment of exercise capacity, which may have prognostic value for long-term cardiovascular outcomes in pre-transplant recipients. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of exercise capacity on long-term cardiovascular outcomes in kidney transplant candidates.

Hepatocyte ploidy in cats with and without hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Domestic cats rarely develop hepatocellular carcinoma. The reason for the low prevalence is unknown. Reductions in hepatocellular ploidy have been associated with hepatic carcinogenesis.