CMR based measurement of aortic stiffness, epicardial fat, left ventricular myocardial strain and fibrosis in hypertensive patients.

Introduction: A combined assessment of different parameters of cardiovascular (CV) risk and prognosis can be supportive and performed with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Aortic stiffness, epicardial fat volume (EFV), left ventricular (LV) strain and fibrosis were evaluated within a single CMR examination and results were related to the presence of hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: 20 healthy controls (57.

Cardiac magnetic resonance using late gadolinium enhancement and atrial T1 mapping predicts poor outcome in patients with atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation therapy.

To determine the pre-procedural value of different fibrotic biomarkers and comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) for the prediction of poor response to ablation therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Left atrial (LA) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and native LA T1 relaxation times were assessed using CMR. Plasma levels of relaxin, myeloperoxidase and serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-mediated cardiac specific titin fragmentation and MMP-mediated type IV collagen degradation were obtained.

Left and right ventricular strain in the course of acute myocarditis: a cardiovascular magnetic resonance study.

Purpose: To investigate the degree of impairment in left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) myocardial strain parameters over the course of acute myocarditis and to evaluate its value for the prediction of functional recovery upon follow-up.

Materials And Methods: 69 patients with acute myocarditis underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging during the acute stage (baseline) and after a mean 92.5 ± 50.

Diagnostic Value of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Strain Analysis for Detection of Cardiac Sarcoidosis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived strain parameters in patients with sarcoidosis, and to compare results to standard CMR markers of sarcoidosis (edema/T2 ratio, early gadolinium enhancement, late gadolinium enhancement) for prediction of disease outcome.

Materials And Methods: 61 patients with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis underwent CMR examination. According to CMR results, patients were divided into two different groups: patients with (CMR+; n = 23) and without (CMR-; n = 38) findings consistent with cardiac sarcoidosis.

Lung cancer screening with MRI: Evaluation of MRI for lung cancer screening by comparison of LDCT- and MRI-derived Lung-RADS categories in the first two screening rounds.

Purpose: To evaluate MRI for lung cancer screening comparing LDCT- and MRI-derived Lung-RADS categories in the first two screening rounds.

Materials And Methods: 224 participants in a lung cancer screening study were examined with MRI and low-dose CT (LDCT). Acquired MRI sequences were T2, balanced, T1 and DWI.

Influence of observer experience on cardiac magnetic resonance strain measurements using feature tracking and conventional tagging.

Aim: CMR quantitative myocardial strain analysis is increasingly being utilized in clinical routine. CMR feature tracking (FT) is now considered an alternative to the reference standard for strain assessment -CMR tagging. The impact of observer experience on the validity of FT results has not yet been investigated.

Lung cancer screening with MRI: characterization of nodules with different non-enhanced MRI sequences.

Background: There is increased interest in pulmonary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a radiation-free alternative to computed tomography (CT) for lung cancer screening.

Purpose: To analyze MRI characteristics of pulmonary nodules with different non-enhanced sequences.

Material And Methods: Eighty-two participants of a lung cancer screening were included.

The effects of flip angle optimization on the precision and reproducibility of feature tracking derived strain assessment in contrast enhanced bSSFP cine images.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether a flip angle adaptation, which is known to improve SNR and CNR in post contrast SSFP imaging, improves the precision and reproducibility of Feature Tracking (FT) derived strain assessments in post contrast bSSFP imaging.

Methods And Results: At 1.5T balanced SSFP midventricular short axis cine images were acquired with various flip angles (FA) before (FA = 50°) and 5 min after (FAs = 50°, 80°, 90°, 100°) injection of double dose Gadobutrol.

Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment of Pulmonary Emphysema with T2-Weighted PROPELLER MRI in a High-Risk Population Compared to Low-Dose CT.

Purpose: To determine the suitability of T2-weighted PROPELLER MRI for the assessment of pulmonary emphysema.

Materials And Methods: 60 participants in a lung cancer screening program (30 subjects with pulmonary emphysema, and 30 control subjects without emphysema) were included for this retrospective study. All subjects were examined with low-dose CT (LDCT) and MRI within the screening program.

Effects of a 24-hr-shift-related short-term sleep deprivation on cardiac function: A cardiac magnetic resonance-based study.

Fatigue and sleep deprivation are common phenomena, especially among medical professionals and shift workers. Studies have proven that short episodes of sleep deprivation can lead to sympathetic hyperactivity with an elevation in blood pressure, heart rate, and an increased secretion of stress hormones (e.g.

Safety and Feasibility of Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain at 1.5 Tesla in Patients with Temporary Transmyocardial Pacing Leads.

Background: Temporary transmyocardial pacing leads (TTPLs) represent an absolute contraindication to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of MRI at 1.5 Tesla (T) using a transmit/receive (T/R) head coil in patients with TTPL.

Lung cancer screening with MRI: results of the first screening round.

Purpose: To evaluate the suitability of MRI for lung cancer screening in a high-risk population.

Materials And Methods: A 5-year lung cancer screening program comparing MRI and low-dose CT (LDCT) in a high-risk population was initiated. 224 subjects were examined with MRI and LDCT.

Comparison of magnetic resonance feature tracking with CSPAMM HARP for the assessment of global and regional layer specific strain.

Purpose: Layer specific strain assessment is increasingly being employed clinically. Cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) Feature Tracking (FT) is considered to be an adequate alternative for strain assessment. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of FT derived layer specific strain assessment.

Feature-tracking myocardial strain analysis in acute myocarditis: diagnostic value and association with myocardial oedema.

Objectives: To investigate the diagnostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) feature-tracking (FT) myocardial strain analysis in patients with suspected acute myocarditis and its association with myocardial oedema.

Methods: Forty-eight patients with suspected acute myocarditis and 35 control subjects underwent CMR. FT CMR analysis of systolic longitudinal (LS), circumferential (CS) and radial strain (RS) was performed.

Cardiac magnetic resonance based evaluation of aortic stiffness and epicardial fat volume in patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and myocardial infarction.

Background Aortic stiffness and epicardial fat relate to cardiovascular risk. Their relationship with each other and their role with hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), and myocardial infarction (MI) can be evaluated by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Purpose To explore an association between aortic stiffness and epicardial as well as paracardial fat volume (EFV and ParaFV, respectively) in hypertensive patients and to relate the results to the presence of DM and MI.

Flip angle optimization for balanced SSFP: Cardiac cine imaging following the application of standard extracellular contrast agent (gadobutrol).

Purpose: To investigate the effect of the flip angle (FA) on the blood-myocardium contrast and to define the FA leading to highest image quality in contrast-enhanced balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) images. bSSFP images provide excellent contrast between myocardium and blood with high signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios (SNR, CNR). In clinical practice, bSSFP images are typically acquired following the injection of extracellular contrast agents (ECAs), although ECAs decrease the blood-myocardium contrast.

Interrelations of Epicardial Fat Volume, Left Ventricular T1-Relaxation Times and Myocardial Strain in Hypertensive Patients: A Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Study.

Purpose: This cardiac magnetic resonance study was performed to assess myocardial fibrosis by evaluating T1-relaxation time (T1), to measure left ventricular (LV) strain, and to determine epicardial fat volume (EFV) in hypertensive patients with no history of cardiovascular (CV) events and to relate the results to the presence of coronary atherosclerotic artery disease (CAD) in these patients.

Materials And Methods: A total of 123 subjects were examined at 1.5 T.

Quantitative assessment of systolic and diastolic function in patients with LGE negative systemic amyloidosis using CMR.

Objectives: In clinical routine myocardial affection in amyloidosis is assessed by qualitative late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Recent studies suggest that early cardiac involvement in amyloidosis may be overlooked by qualitative LGE assessment. The aim of this study was to assess possible early cardiac involvement in LGE negative AL patients by means of systolic and diastolic strain assessment and quantitative enhancement.

Left Ventricular Myocardial Fibrosis, Atrophy, and Impaired Contractility in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and a Preserved Left Ventricular Function: A Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Study.

Purpose: Using a cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) approach we investigated left ventricular (LV) myocardial changes associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) by strain analysis and mapping techniques.

Materials And Methods: Seventeen patients with PAH (9 men; mean age, 64.2±13.

In-bore transrectal MRI-guided prostate biopsies: Are there risk factors for complications?

Purpose: To systematically analyze risk factors for complications of in-bore transrectal MRI-guided prostate biopsies (MRGB).

Materials And Methods: 90 patients, who were scheduled for MRGB were included for this study. Exclusion criteria were coagulation disorders, therapy with anticoagulant drugs, and acute infections of the urinary and the lower gastrointestinal tract.

Comprehensive Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for Short-Term Follow-Up in Acute Myocarditis.

Background: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) can detect inflammatory myocardial alterations in patients suspected of having acute myocarditis. There is limited information regarding the degree of normalization of CMR parameters during the course of the disease and the time window during which quantitative CMR should be most reasonably implemented for diagnostic work-up.

Methods And Results: Twenty-four patients with suspected acute myocarditis and 45 control subjects underwent CMR.

The effects of extracellular contrast agent (Gadobutrol) on the precision and reproducibility of cardiovascular magnetic resonance feature tracking.

Background: Today feature tracking (FT) is considered to be a robust assessment tool in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) for strain assessment. The FT algorithm is dependent on a high contrast between blood pool and myocardium. Extracellular contrast agents decrease blood-myocardial contrast in SSFP images and thus might affect FT results.

3D-Dixon cardiac magnetic resonance detects an increased epicardial fat volume in hypertensive men with myocardial infarction.

Purpose: Using a three-dimensional ECG- and respiratory navigator gated magnetization prepared mDixon-sequence (3D-Dixon) we quantified epi- and pericardial fat volumes (EFV, PFV) in hypertensive men compared to a healthy control group and related the amount of fat volumes in hypertensive men to the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction (MI).

Materials And Methods: 55 hypertensive men (mean age 63.02±10.