Central Obesity is Associated with Increased Left Ventricular Maximal Wall Thickness and Intrathoracic Adipose Tissue Measured with Cardiac Magnetic Resonance.

Introduction: Central obesity (CO), characterized by an increased waist circumference increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and morbidity, yet the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. CO is often associated with general obesity, hypertension, and abnormal glucose tolerance, confounding the independent contribution of CO to CVD.

Aim: We investigated the relationship of CO (without associated disorders) with left ventricular (LV) characteristics and intrathoracic adipose tissue (IAT) by cardiac magnetic resonance.

Quantification of Myocardial Blood Flow by Machine Learning Analysis of Modified Dual Bolus MRI Examination.

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a promising method for estimating myocardial blood flow (MBF). However, it is often affected by noise from imaging artefacts, such as dark rim artefact obscuring relevant features. Machine learning enables extracting important features from such noisy data and is increasingly applied in areas where traditional approaches are limited.

Magnetic resonance imaging characteristics in patients with histopathologically proven fibrous dysplasia-a systematic review.

Objective: To examine the demographics, lesion location, and characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with histopathologically proven fibrous dysplasia (FD).

Materials And Methods: A systematic literature search of the MRI findings in patients with histologically proven FD was performed. Altogether, 76 articles with 136 patients were evaluated.

Quantification of porcine myocardial perfusion with modified dual bolus MRI - a prospective study with a PET reference.

Background: The reliable quantification of myocardial blood flow (MBF) with MRI, necessitates the correction of errors in arterial input function (AIF) caused by the T1 saturation effect. The aim of this study was to compare MBF determined by a traditional dual bolus method against a modified dual bolus approach and to evaluate both methods against PET in a porcine model of myocardial ischemia.

Methods: Local myocardial ischemia was induced in five pigs, which were subsequently examined with contrast enhanced MRI (gadoteric acid) and PET (O-15 water).

CMR derived left ventricular septal convexity in carriers of the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-causing MYBPC3-Q1061X mutation.

This manuscript has not been published before and is not currently being considered for publication elsewhere. Increased septal convexity of left ventricle has been described in subjects with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) -causing mutations without left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Our objective was to study septal convexity by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in subjects with the Finnish founder mutation Q1016X in the myosin-binding protein C gene (MYBPC3).

Novel electrocardiographic features in carriers of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy causing sarcomeric mutations.

Objectives: The sensitivity and specificity of the conventional 12-lead ECG to identify carriers of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) - causing mutations without left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has been limited. We assessed the ability of novel electrocardiographic parameters to improve the detection of HCM mutation carriers.

Methods: We studied 140 carriers (G+) of the TPM1-Asp175Asn or MYBPC3-Gln1061X pathogenic variants for HCM: The G+/LVH+ group (n = 98) consisted of mutation carriers with LVH and the G+/LVH- group (n = 42) without LVH.

Effects of knee flexion and extension on the tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance in adolescents.

Background: Measurement of the tibial tubercle-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance is used to assess patellofemoral instability and rotation. Since patellofemoral instability and acute patellar dislocation are common among adolescents, it is important to clarify the relationship between TT-TG distance and various flexion and extension angles in asymptomatic children. The purpose of the present study was to determine how knee flexion and extension influence TT-TG-distance values measured using 3D imaging in an anatomic axial plane among asymptomatic adolescents.

Cardiac CT Differentiates Left Atrial Appendage Thrombi from Circulatory Stasis in Acute Stroke Patients.

Background/aim: The left atrial appendage (LAA) is the most typical origin for a cardioembolic thrombusins' stroke etiology. Although transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is widely used, this technique encounters difficulties in differentiating solid thrombus from circulatory stasis/spontaneous echo contrast (SEC). We assessed whether cardiac computed tomography (cCT) could more accurately detect LAA thrombi.

Current perspectives in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with the focus on patients in the Finnish population: a review.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited heart disease, with the prevalence of about 1/500. During the last two decades, the knowledge of the etiology, pathogenesis, risk stratification and prevention of sudden death in HCM has substantially advanced. Most often, HCM is familial and caused by mutations in sarcomere genes, inherited in an autosomal dominant manner.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance of mitral valve length in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Previous data suggest that mitral valve leaflets are elongated in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and mitral valve leaflet elongation may constitute a primary phenotypic expression of HCM. Our objective was to measure the length of mitral valve leaflets by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in subjects with HCM caused by a Finnish founder mutation in the myosin-binding protein C gene (MYBPC3-Q1061X), carriers of the same mutation without left ventricular hypertrophy, as well as in unselected consecutive patients with HCM, and respective controls.

Methods: Anterior mitral valve leaflet (AML) and posterior mitral valve leaflet (PML) lengths were measured by CMR in 47 subjects with the Q1061X mutation in the gene encoding MYBPC3 and in 20 healthy relatives without the mutation.

Left ventricular mechanical dispersion is associated with nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Objective: We assessed the value of speckle tracking two-dimensional (2D) strain echocardiography (2DSE) measured mechanical dispersion (MD) with other imaging and electrocardiographic parameters in differentiating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients with and without nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) on 24-h ambulatory ECG monitoring.

Methods And Results: We studied 31 patients with HCM caused by the Finnish founder mutation MYBPC3-Q1061X and 20 control subjects with comprehensive 2DSE echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI). The presence of NSVT was assessed from ambulatory 24-h ECG monitoring.

Diagnostic Performance of Left Atrial Diameter Measurement in Computed Tomography to Detect Increased Left Atrial Volume.

Background/aim: The left atrium (LA) is frequently imaged in cardiac computed tomographic (cCT) examinations. The LA volume can be accurately measured with three-dimensional (3D) volumetry but this method is time consuming and thus not routinely used in clinical practice. Accordingly, increased LA size may be overlooked although volume enlargement is associated with adverse cardiovascular events.

Acute phase IL-10 plasma concentration associates with the high risk sources of cardiogenic stroke.

Background: Etiological assessment of stroke is essential for accurate treatment decisions and for secondary prevention of recurrence. There is evidence that interleukin-10 (IL-10) associates with ischemic stroke. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the levels of IL-10 in ischemic stroke with unknown or suspected cardiogenic etiology, and evaluate the correlation between IL-10 plasma concentration and the number of diagnosed high risk sources for cardioembolism.

Increased visceral adipose tissue as a potential risk factor in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS).

Purpose: The etiology of an ischemic stroke remains undetermined in 20-35% of cases and many patients do not have any of the conventional risk factors. Increased visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a suggested new risk factor for both carotid artery atherosclerosis (CAA) and atrial fibrillation (AF), but its role in the remaining stroke population is unknown. We assessed the amount of VAT in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) after excluding major-risk cardioembolic sources, occlusive atherosclerosis, and lacunar stroke.

Visually assessed severity of lumbar spinal canal stenosis is paradoxically associated with leg pain and objective walking ability.

Background: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is the common term used to describe patients with symptoms related to the anatomical reduction of the lumbar spinal canal size. However, some subjects may have a markedly narrowed canal without any symptoms. This raises the question of what is the actual role of central canal stenosis in symptomatic patients.

Preoperative MRI findings predict two-year postoperative clinical outcome in lumbar spinal stenosis.

Purpose: To study the predictive value of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings for the two-year postoperative clinical outcome in lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).

Methods: 84 patients (mean age 63±11 years, male 43%) with symptoms severe enough to indicate LSS surgery were included in this prospective observational single-center study. Preoperative MRI of the lumbar spine was performed with a 1.

Correlation of lateral stenosis in MRI with symptoms, walking capacity and EMG findings in patients with surgically confirmed lateral lumbar spinal canal stenosis.

Background: To evaluate the clinical significance of lateral lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LLSCS), found by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), through correlating the imaging findings with patient symptoms, walking capacity and electromyography (EMG) measurements.

Method: 102 patients with symptoms of LSS referred for operative treatment were studied in this uncontrolled study. Of these patients, subjects with distinct only lateral LSS were included.

Morphological and volumetric analysis of left atrial appendage and left atrium: cardiac computed tomography-based reproducibility assessment.

Objectives: Left atrial appendage (LAA) dilatation and morphology may influence an individual's risk for intracardiac thrombi and ischemic stroke. LAA size and morphology can be evaluated using cardiac computed tomography (cCT). The present study evaluated the reproducibility of LAA volume and morphology assessments.

Determinants of left atrial appendage volume in stroke patients without chronic atrial fibrillation.

Background: Left atrial appendage (LAA) volume has been shown to be increased in patients with acute cryptogenic stroke. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a well-recognized risk factor but it is not the only one associated with LAA enlargement. The aim of the study was to clarify the multifactorial etiology of LAA enlargement in cardiogenic stroke/TIA patients without AF.

Assessment of myocardial perfusion with MRI using a modified dual bolus method.

Quantification of regional myocardial blood flow (rMBF) with first-pass magnetic resonance imaging (FP-MRI) requires two contrast agent injections (dual bolus technique), inducing error in the determined rMBF if the injections differ. We hypothesize that using input and residue curves of the same injection would be more reliable. We aim to introduce and evaluate a novel method to correct the high concentration arterial input function (AIF) for determination of rMBF.

Left atrial appendage volume increased in more than half of patients with cryptogenic stroke.

Background: Ischemic strokes without a well-defined etiology are labeled as cryptogenic, and account for 30-40% of strokes in stroke registries. The left atrial appendage (LAA) is the most typical origin for intracardiac thrombus formation when associated with atrial fibrillation. Here, we examined whether increased LAA volume detected with cardiac computed tomography (cCT) constitutes a risk factor in cryptogenic stroke patients.

Effect of middle cerebral artery territory ischemic stroke on QT interval.

Background: Prolonged QT interval associates with increased risk for sudden cardiac death after acute ischemic stroke. However, pathophysiology of prolonged QT interval after stroke is poorly elucidated. In this study, we investigated whether QT interval dynamics is different in patients with right and left middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory stroke.

Computed tomography and echocardiography together reveal more high-risk findings than echocardiography alone in the diagnostics of stroke etiology.

Background: Cardioembolic stroke carries a major risk of stroke recurrence, which can be markedly reduced by early initiation of appropriate secondary prevention. We investigate whether combined examination of the heart, aorta, and cervicocranial arteries with computed tomography (CACC-CT) may improve the diagnosis of stroke etiology.

Methods: Patients with suspected cardiogenic ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (n = 140; mean age 60 ± 10 years; 95 males) underwent CACC-CT and standard diagnostics including transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (TTE/TEE).

Accuracy and reproducibility of a retrospective outcome assessment for lumbar spinal stenosis surgery.

Background: Retrospective assessment of surgery outcome is considered problematic. The aims of this study were to evaluate the reproducibility and accuracy of a retrospective outcome assessment of lumbar spinal stenosis surgery with reference to prospective outcome scale measurements.

Method: Outcome of surgery from 100 lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) patients was evaluated retrospectively from patient files of a 3-month outpatient visit performed according to a standard clinical protocol by two independent researchers.