Effect of Coal Mining on Health Outcomes Between Male and Female Miners in Southern West Virginia: A Brief Report.

Purpose: There is evidence of an association between coal mining and an increased prevalence of respiratory and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Mining is significantly associated with elevated chronic CVD mortality rates. Research is limited and looks at the differences between specific health outcomes between male and female coal miners.

Permanent right-to-left shunt is the key factor in managing patent foramen ovale.

Objectives: We sought to prospectively evaluate risk of stroke and impact of transcatheter patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure in patients with permanent right-to left shunt compared with those with Valsalva maneuver-induced right-to-left shunt.

Background: Pathophysiology and properly management of PFO still remain far from being fully clarified: in particular, the contribution of permanent right-to-left shunt remains unknown.

Methods: Between March 2006 and October 2010, we enrolled 180 (mean age 44 ± 10.

Simultaneous measurement of left and right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction during dobutamine stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Objective: During cardiovascular stress, if right ventricular (RV) stroke volume exceeds left ventricular (LV) stroke volume, then a large volume of blood is displaced into the pulmonary circulation that may precipitate pulmonary edema. We sought to determine the metrics by which cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) could measure simultaneous displacement of RV and LV stroke volumes during dobutamine stress.

Methods: Thirteen healthy subjects (5 women) aged 53 ± 10 years without medical conditions and taking no medications underwent 2 CMR examinations at 1.

Impaired left ventricular stroke volume reserve during clinical dobutamine stress predicts future episodes of pulmonary edema.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether dobutamine-induced abnormal stress changes in left ventricular stroke volume (LVSV) and aortic stiffness predict future pulmonary edema.

Background: Increased aortic stiffness that decreases LVSV during adrenergic stress may serve as a marker for future pulmonary edema (PE).

Methods: We measured LVSV, ventriculovascular stiffness (pulse pressure/LVSV(index)), and aortic distensibility at rest and during intravenous dobutamine administration using cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

May migraine post-patent foramen ovale closure sustain the microembolic genesis of cortical spread depression?

Background: Cortical spreading depression has been suggested to be the main substrate for migraine, but its pathobiology is not completely understood. Recently, the microembolic hypothesis as a promoting factor of cortical spreading depression has been demonstrated in an animal model. Our study is aimed to present a series of patients in whom early migraine attacks immediately after closure procedure predicted migraine with aura resolution on the long term, suggesting a role for microembolization in migraine genesis.

Prediction of cardiac events in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction with dobutamine cardiovascular magnetic resonance assessment of wall motion score index.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of dobutamine cardiovascular magnetic resonance (DCMR) results for predicting cardiac events in individuals with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Background: It is unknown whether DCMR results identify a poor cardiac prognosis when the resting LVEF is moderately to severely reduced.

Methods: Two hundred consecutive patients ages 30 to 88 (average 64) years with an LVEF View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cell transplantation for treatment of left-ventricular dysfunction due to ischemic heart failure: from bench to bedside.

Cell transplantation is an innovative technology that involves the implantation of a variety of myogenic and angiogenic cell types. The transplanted cells proliferate and augment left ventricular performance and therein ameliorate the heart failure symptoms. The concept of cell transplantation has followed the footsteps of angiogenesis starting as bench side research.

Dobutamine cardiovascular magnetic resonance: a review.

Dobutamine cardiovascular magnetic resonance (DCMR) is useful for identifying myocardial ischemia and viability in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). This article reviews the performance and utility of DCMR, its association with dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE), and areas of active investigative research.