Rationale and design of the multi organ inflammation with serial testing study: a comprehensive assessment of functional and structural abnormalities in patients with recovered COVID-19.

Introduction: Short-term clinical outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 infection are generally favorable. However, 15-20% of patients report persistent symptoms of at least 12 weeks duration, often referred to as long COVID. Population studies have also demonstrated an increased risk of incident diabetes and cardiovascular disease at 12 months following infection.

TITAN Trial: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Model in Breast Cancer.

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) modeled care is recommended for patients with breast cancer to mitigate risk of cardiotoxicity. However, the cardiovascular impact of CR-modeled interventions has not been studied.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate if a multidisciplinary model of CR reduces cardiotoxicity and improves cardiovascular risk in patients undergoing breast cancer treatment.

Prognostic Utility of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance-Based Phenotyping in Patients With Muscular Dystrophy.

Background The prognostic utility of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, including strain analysis and tissue characterization, has not been comprehensively investigated in adult patients with muscular dystrophy. Methods and Results We prospectively enrolled 148 patients with dystrophinopathies (including heterozygotes), limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, and type 1 myotonic dystrophy (median age, 36.0 [interquartile range, 23.

Remote ischaemic conditioning in ST elevation myocardial infarction: a registry-based randomised trial.

Objectives: Remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC) has been tested as a possible strategy for mitigating reperfusion injury in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). However, surrogate outcomes have shown inconsistent effects with lack of clinical correlation.

Methods: We performed a registry-based randomised study of patients with STEMI allocated to RIC (4 cycles of blood pressure cuff inflation to 200 mm Hg for 5 min of ischaemia followed by 5 min of reperfusion) or standard of care (SOC) during PPCI.

Utility of FDG PET and Cardiac MRI in Diagnosis and Monitoring of Immunosuppressive Treatment in Cardiac Sarcoidosis.

Purpose: To compare the contributions of cardiac MRI and PET in the diagnosis and management of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), with particular reference to quantitative measures.

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective, observational study of 31 patients (mean age, 45.7 years) with proven extracardiac sarcoidosis and possible CS who were investigated with fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT and cardiac MRI.

Sarcoidosis: a prospective observational cohort from Northern Alberta.

Introduction: Sarcoidosis is a multi-system disease reported to occur with a higher incidence in Alberta than many other health jurisdictions within and outside of Canada. The reasons for this higher incidence are currently not known. Exposure to beryllium can result in a clinically and radiologically identical disease to sarcoidosis.

F-Sodium Fluoride Imaging of Coronary Atherosclerosis in Ambulatory Patients With Diabetes Mellitus.

Objective- Although patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are considered at high risk of cardiovascular events, there is growing evidence that this notion is incorrect. Atherosclerosis imaging may identify patients at risk. Approach and Results- We performed coronary atherosclerosis with F-sodium fluoride (NaF) positron emission tomography/computed tomography and gated chest computed tomography for coronary artery calcium in 88 consecutive ambulatory patients with DM on a stable medical regimen.

Quantitative blood flow evaluation of vasodilation-stress compared with dobutamine-stress in patients with end-stage liver disease using Rb PET/CT.

Background: Our aim was to determine if end-stage liver disease (ESLD) is associated with an attenuated response to vasodilator-stress or dobutamine-stress using Rb-PET MPI with blood flow quantification.

Methods And Results: Pre-liver transplant patients who had a normal dipyridamole-stress (n = 27) or dobutamine-stress (n = 26) Rb PET/CT MPI study with no identifiable coronary artery calcium were identified retrospectively and compared to a prospectively identified low-risk of liver disease dipyridamole-stress control group (n = 20). The dipyridamole-stress liver disease group had a lower myocardial flow reserve (MFR) (1.

Comparison of epicardial adipose tissue radiodensity threshold between contrast and non-contrast enhanced computed tomography scans: A cohort study of derivation and validation.

Background And Aims: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume derived from contrast enhanced (CE) computed tomography (CT) scans is not well validated. We aim to establish a reliable threshold to accurately quantify EAT volume from CE datasets.

Methods: We analyzed EAT volume on paired non-contrast (NC) and CE datasets from 25 patients to derive appropriate Hounsfield (HU) cutpoints to equalize two EAT volume estimates.

A type A aortic dissection missed by non-cardiac gated contrast-enhanced computed tomography due to an aortic root dissection flap masquerading as an aortic valve apparatus: a case report.

Introduction: Though computed tomographic angiography has very high sensitivity and specificity to diagnose acute aortic dissection, false-negative studies can occur and secondary tests may be required to make the diagnosis.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a 57-year-old Caucasian man with a typical presentation for acute type A aortic dissection in whom the initial non-cardiac gated computed tomographic angiogram was negative, leading to a delay in surgical management. Transesophageal echocardiography and post hoc 3D reconstruction of the original computed tomographic scan revealed a dissection flap confined to the aortic root, immediately superior to the sinuses of Valsalva and masquerading as part of the aortic valve apparatus.

Imaging of vascular complications and their consequences following transplantation in the abdomen.

Transplantation is the surgical treatment of choice for end-stage organ failure. Transplantation procedures performed in the abdomen include liver, renal, pancreas, islet, intestinal, and multivisceral transplantations. Imaging plays a pivotal role in the posttransplantation setting for monitoring the transplant allograft and screening for complications.

Suppression of myocardial 18F-FDG uptake with a preparatory "Atkins-style" low-carbohydrate diet.

Objectives: Physiological myocardial uptake of 18F-FDG during positron emission tomography can mask adjacent abnormal uptake in mediastinal malignancy and inflammatory cardiac diseases. Myocardial uptake is unpredictable and variable. This study evaluates the impact of a low-carbohydrate diet in reducing myocardial FDG uptake.

Assessment of Myocardial Scar; Comparison Between F-FDG PET, CMR and Tc-Sestamibi.

Objective: Patients with heart failure and ischaemic heart disease may obtain benefit from revascularisation if viable dysfunctional myocardium is present. Such patients have an increased operative risk, so it is important to ensure that viability is correctly identified. In this study, we have compared the utility of 3 imaging modalities to detect myocardial scar.

Renal artery stenosis evaluation: diagnostic performance of gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MR angiography--comparison with DSA.

Purpose: To prospectively determine diagnostic performance and safety of contrast material-enhanced (CE) magnetic resonance (MR) angiography with 0.1 mmol per kilogram of body weight gadobenate dimeglumine for depiction of significant steno-occlusive disease (> or =51% stenosis) of renal arteries, with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as reference standard.

Materials And Methods: This multicenter study was approved by local institutional review boards; all patients provided written informed consent.

State-of-the-art imaging techniques in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

It is important to differentiate chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) from other forms of pulmonary hypertension (PH) to target treatment and optimize therapeutic outcome. Misdiagnosis is common, and high-quality imaging is essential if CTEPH is to be diagnosed correctly. In addition to making a diagnosis, imaging helps identify patients for surgery, aids surgical planning, and provides postsurgical monitoring.

Are stentless valves superior to modern stented valves? A prospective randomized trial.

Background: It is presumed that stentless aortic bioprostheses are hemodynamically superior to stented bioprostheses. A prospective randomized controlled trial was undertaken to compare stentless versus modern stented valves.

Methods And Results: Patients with severe aortic valve stenosis (n=161) undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) were randomized intraoperatively to receive either the C-E Perimount stented bioprosthesis (n=81) or the Prima Plus stentless bioprosthesis (n =80).

Abdominal and iliac arterial stenoses: comparative double-blinded randomized study of diagnostic accuracy of 3D MR angiography with gadodiamide or gadopentetate dimeglumine.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate accuracy of gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance (MR) angiography with gadodiamide and gadopentetate dimeglumine (0.1 mmol/kg), with intraarterial DSA as reference standard, for imaging abdominal and iliac arterial stenoses.

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by all institutional review boards; informed consent was obtained from each subject before procedures.

Stroke attributable to a calcific embolus from the brachiocephalic trunk.

Background And Purpose: Calcific brain embolization is a rare event that is usually secondary to cardiac valve calcification. We present a case of stroke caused by embolization of calcific material from the brachiocephalic trunk, probably induced by radiotherapy.

Summary Of Case: A 56-year-old right-handed female developed left-sided hemiparesis, hemihypesthesia, and sensory inattention.

Cardiac imaging using nuclear medicine and positron emission tomography.

This article concentrates on specific issues that are of current interest in mainstream nuclear cardiology. These include developments in myocardial perfusion technique, the potential diagnostic benefits of ECG-gating and attenuation correction, nuclear imaging in the diagnosis of hibernating myocardium, and the cost-effectiveness of perfusion imaging in patients with suspected angina.