Developing competencies relating to information science and technology in Japanese undergraduate medical education.

In response to the growing expectation and recognized potential for integrating information and communication technology (ICT) into medicine, the Model Core Curriculum for Medical Education in Japan incorporated 'the ability to use information science and technology' as a new competency in its 2022 revision. This study aimed to identify specific learning objectives that medical students should achieve to acquire this competency. The research team developed an initial list of 107 learning objectives through a literature survey.

Implementing digital transformation in the revision process for Japan's Model Core Curriculum: A qualitative document analysis.

Purpose: Digital transformation (DT) is significantly impacting medical education. Despite advancements such as virtual reality and remote education, the influence of DT on the development of curricula and guidelines has not been thoroughly explored. This study aims to explore the enabling factors and impacts of DT on the revision process for Japan's Model Core Curriculum (MCC) in 2022.

Impact of Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch on Hemodynamics During Exercise in Patients With Aortic Stenosis After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation With a Balloon-Expandable Valve.

Background: There is no evidence of hemodynamic performance during exercise in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). This study aimed to investigate the changes in kinematic hemodynamics during exercise and determine the impact of prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) on the hemodynamics of transcatheter heart valves using exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) in AS patients after TAVI.

Methods And Results: This study enrolled 77 consecutive patients (mean age 82 ± 5 years, 50.

Prognostic Implications of Reductions in Heart Rates in Patients With Acute Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). Heart rate (HR) also changes significantly over time. However, the association between changes in HR in AF patients and prognosis is uncertain.

Prognostic value of exercise stress echocardiography in patients with secondary mitral regurgitation: a long-term follow-up study.

Background: Secondary mitral regurgitation (MR) remains a challenging problem in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with heart failure. Although it is well known that secondary MR is dynamic, the impact of the severity of MR during exercise on long-term outcome has not been fully evaluated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic value of exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) in patients with secondary MR.

Predictors of Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with Asymptomatic Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation: Mechanistic Insights from 2D Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography.

Presence of exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension (EIPH) in asymptomatic degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR) determines prognosis. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism and predictors of EIPH in asymptomatic DMR. Ninety-one consecutive asymptomatic patients with DMR who underwent exercise stress echocardiography were prospectively included.

Prognostic value of exercise left ventricular end-systolic volume index in patients with asymptomatic aortic regurgitation: an exercise echocardiography study.

Background: Surgical timing of chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) remains a matter of debate because of limited data. This study assessed the prognostic value of exercise echocardiography in asymptomatic AR.

Methods: This prospective study included 60 consecutive asymptomatic patients with isolated moderate or severe AR (mean regurgitant volume 56.

Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic normal reference ranges for proximal aorta dimensions: results from the EACVI NORRE study.

Aims: To report normal reference ranges for echocardiographic dimensions of the proximal aorta obtained in a large group of healthy volunteers recruited using state-of-the-art cardiac ultrasound equipment, considering different measurement conventions, and taking into account gender, age, and body size of individuals.

Methods And Results: A total of 704 (mean age: 46.0 ± 13.

Prediction of new onset of resting pulmonary arterial hypertension in systemic sclerosis.

Background: Early detection of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH) is crucial in systemic scleroderma. However, predictors of new onset of resting PH during follow-up (FUPH) have been poorly explored.

Aim: To determine whether nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) grade and exercise echocardiographic variables are predictors of FUPH.

Cardiovascular outcome in systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: Cardiovascular involvement is recognized as a poor prognostic factor in systemic sclerosis (SSc). The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of nailfold video-capillaroscopy (NVC), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) blood level and exercise echocardiography to predict the occurrence of cardiovascular events in SSc.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 65 patients with SSc (age 54±14 years, 30% female) followed in CHU Sart-Tilman, Liège, Belgium.

Impact of Serial B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Changes for Predicting Outcome in Asymptomatic Patients With Aortic Stenosis.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the impact on the outcome of serial B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) changes during follow-up in asymptomatic patients with ≥ moderate aortic stenosis (AS) and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

Methods: We prospectively screened 69 patients who underwent comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography, BNP level measurement at baseline and after every 6 or 12 months. Annualized BNP changes were calculated as the difference between the last and baseline BNP measurements divided by the duration of follow-up.

Echocardiographic reference ranges for normal cardiac Doppler data: results from the NORRE Study.

Aims: Reference values for Doppler parameters according to age and gender are recommended for the assessment of heart physiology, specifically for left ventricular (LV) diastolic function. In this study, we report normal reference ranges for Doppler parameters obtained in a large group of healthy volunteers. Echocardiographic data were acquired using state-of-the-art cardiac ultrasound equipment following Doppler acquisition and measurement protocols approved by the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging.

Influence of exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension on exercise capacity in asymptomatic degenerative mitral regurgitation.

Background: Exercise capacity is helpful in the management of patients with mitral regurgitation (MR). However, the determinants of exercise capacity reduction in MR have remained unclear. This study was designed to objectively assess exercise capacity, identify the echocardiographic predictors of exercise capacity, and investigate its impact on development of symptoms in asymptomatic degenerative MR.

Usefulness of serial B-type natriuretic peptide assessment in asymptomatic aortic stenosis.

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level may be a useful prognostic marker for the management of asymptomatic patients with aortic stenosis (AS). The aim of this study was to identify the echocardiographic determinants of BNP changes during follow-up in AS. We studied 61 asymptomatic patients with greater than moderate AS and preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction who underwent rest and exercise Doppler echocardiography with concomitant BNP level measurement at baseline.

Determinants of exercise-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension in systemic sclerosis.

Background: Exercise-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (EIPH) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) has already been observed but its determinants remain unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and the determinants of EIPH in SSc.

Methods And Results: We prospectively enrolled 63 patients with SSc (age 54±3years, 76% female) followed in CHU Sart-Tilman in Liège.

Low-flow aortic stenosis and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

Valvular aortic stenosis (AS) is the most frequent valvular disease in developed countries. Treatment decisions in AS are mainly based upon the symptomatic status of the patient and the severity of AS. Doppler echocardiography represents the standard tool for detecting and assessing the severity of the disease.

Echocardiographic reference ranges for normal cardiac chamber size: results from the NORRE study.

Aims: Availability of normative reference values for cardiac chamber quantitation is a prerequisite for accurate clinical application of echocardiography. In this study, we report normal reference ranges for cardiac chambers size obtained in a large group of healthy volunteers accounting for gender and age. Echocardiographic data were acquired using state-of-the-art cardiac ultrasound equipment following chamber quantitation protocols approved by the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging.

Simple exercise echocardiography using a Master's two-step test for early detection of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Early detection of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is indispensable, although, echocardiography at rest alone does not provide sufficient evidence for it. Here, this study aimed to investigate the usefulness of simple exercise echocardiography using a Master's two-step test for detecting early PAH.

Methods: This study included 52 connective tissue disease patients who had mild symptoms in World Health Organization functional classification 2, suspected as having early PAH, and underwent exercise echocardiography and right heart catheterization.

Early diastolic function during exertion influences exercise intolerance in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) often develop dyspnea and exercise intolerance. Diastolic dysfunction may contribute to exercise intolerance in these patients. This study aimed to clarify our hypothesis as to whether diastolic function rather than systolic function would be associated with exercise intolerance in HCM using two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking echocardiography during exercise.

Normal Reference Ranges for Echocardiography: rationale, study design, and methodology (NORRE Study).

Background: Availability of normative reference values for cardiac chamber dimensions, volumes, mass, and function is a prerequisite for the accurate application of echocardiography for both clinical and research purposes. However, due to the lack of consistency in current echocardiographic 'reference values', their use for clinical decision-making remains questionable.

Aims: The aim of the 'Normal Reference Ranges for Echocardiography Study (NORRE Study)' is to obtain a set of 'normal values' for cardiac chamber geometry and function in a large cohort of healthy Caucasian individuals aged over a wide range of ages (25-75 years) using both conventional and advanced echocardiographic techniques.

Relationship between left ventricular ejection fraction and mitral annular displacement derived by speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with different heart diseases.

Background: Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE)-derived mitral annular displacement (MAD) utilizes the speckle tracking technique to measure strain vectors, which provides accurate estimates of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Here, we investigated a link between STE-derived MAD and LVEF in patients with different heart diseases and evaluated its clinical usefulness.

Methods: This study included 266 outpatients and 84 controls.

Global longitudinal strain by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging predicts exercise capacity in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) predicts mortality in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, a weak correlation was found between LVEF and peak oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]) in CHF patients. Global longitudinal strain measured by two-dimensional (2D) strain is regarded as a more useful predictor of cardiac events than LVEF.

Changes in mitral regurgitation and left ventricular geometry during exercise affect exercise capacity in patients with systolic heart failure.

Aims: exercise may dramatically change the extent of functional mitral regurgitation (MR) and left ventricular (LV) geometry in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). We hypothesized that dynamic changes in MR and LV geometry would affect exercise capacity.

Methods And Results: this study included 30 CHF patients with functional MR who underwent symptom-limited bicycle exercise stress echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing for quantitative assessment of MR (effective regurgitant orifice; ERO), and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP).