Long-term imaging analysis of a myocarditis case: Utilizing strain with echocardiography and cardiovascular magnetic resonance findings.

Unlabelled: Herein, we report a case of myocarditis in a 27-year-old male with long-term follow-up using longitudinal peak systolic strain (LPSS) measurements with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). On admission, a predominant decrease was observed in the LPSS in the posterolateral segments of the TTE. After a period of two weeks, the values of the LPSS observed in the posterolateral segments were still slightly reduced, which is consistent with the LGE results in CMR.

Risk of Mortality Prediction Involving Time-Varying Covariates for Patients with Heart Failure Using Deep Learning.

Heart failure (HF) is challenging public medical and healthcare systems. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel deep learning-based prognostic model to predict the risk of all-cause mortality for patients with HF. We also compared the performance of the proposed model with those of classical deep learning- and traditional statistical-based models.

Exploring and Identifying Prognostic Phenotypes of Patients with Heart Failure Guided by Explainable Machine Learning.

Identifying patient prognostic phenotypes facilitates precision medicine. This study aimed to explore phenotypes of patients with heart failure (HF) corresponding to prognostic condition (risk of mortality) and identify the phenotype of new patients by machine learning (ML). A unsupervised ML was applied to explore phenotypes of patients in a derivation dataset (n = 562) based on their medical records.

Deep Learning-Based Recurrence Prediction of Atrial Fibrillation After Catheter Ablation.

Background: Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is an effective therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it the problem of AF recurrence remains. This study investigates whether a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) can accurately predict AF recurrence in patients with AF who underwent RFCA, and compares CNN with conventional statistical analysis.

Safety and feasibility of implanting a transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (TV-ICD) in the left axilla.

Background: Transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (TV-ICD) systems are commonly implanted in the left anterior chest because of an easier implantation and better defibrillation threshold. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of left axillary implantations of TV-ICD systems.

Methods: We performed left axillary TV-ICD implantations and compared that to the major complication rate and operation time of the conventional TV-ICD implantation site (left anterior chest).

Impact of right atrial structural remodeling on recurrence after ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Background: Recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is associated with left atrial (LA) remodeling; however, its association with right atrial (RA) remodeling remains unclear.

Objective: This study aimed to identify whether RA structural remodeling could predict recurrence of AF after PVI.

Methods: This study prospectively analyzed 245 patients with AF who had undergone PVI.

Impact of atrial mitral and tricuspid regurgitation on atrial fibrillation recurrence after ablation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) induces functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) and tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) during atrial remodeling. FMR and FTR are associated with AF prognosis, but the effects for AF recurrence after ablation have not been determined conclusively.

Methods: Two hundred thirty nine patients who underwent AF ablation were enrolled.

Lesion size and adjacent tissue damage assessment with high power and short duration radiofrequency ablation: comparison to conventional radiofrequency ablation power setting.

There is increased interest in creating high-power short duration (HPSD) ablation lesions in the field of atrial fibrillation (AF) radiofrequency ablation (RFA). We evaluated the lesion characteristics and collateral damage using two separate RFA protocols setting (HPSD: 50 W and 7 s vs control: 25 W and 30 s) in vitro model. Sixteen freshly killed porcine hearts were obtained, and the atrium and ventricle slabs were harvested for ablation.

The Association of Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI) with Biatrial Remodeling in Atrial Fibrillation.

Aim: Arterial stiffness results in elevated left ventricular filling pressure and can promote atrial remodeling due to chronic pressure overload. However, the impact of arterial stiffness on the process of atrial remodeling in association with atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been fully evaluated.

Methods: We enrolled 237 consecutive patients diagnosed with AF who had undergone ablation; data from 213 patients were analyzed.

Decreased Defibrillation Threshold and Minimized Myocardial Damage With Left Axilla Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Implantation.

Background: To reduce myocardial damage caused by implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shock, the left axilla was studied as an alternative pulse generator implantation site, and compared with the traditional implantation site, the left anterior chest.

Methods and results: Computer simulation was used to study the defibrillation conduction pattern and estimate the simulated defibrillation threshold (DFT) and myocardial damage when pulse generators were placed in the left axilla and left anterior chest, respectively; pulse generators were also newly implanted in the left axilla (n=30) and anterior chest (n=40) to compare the corresponding DFT. On simulation, when ICD generators were implanted in the left axilla, compared with the left anterior chest, the whole heart may be defibrillated with a lower defibrillation energy (left axilla 6.

Efficacy and Myocardial Injury With Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators - Computer Simulation of Defibrillation Shock Conduction.

Background: Subcutaneous implantable cardiac defibrillator (S-ICD) systems have a lower invasiveness than traditional ICD systems, and expand the indications of ICD implantations. The S-ICD standard defibrillation shock output energy, however, is approximately 4 times that of the traditional ICD system. This raises concern about the efficacy of the defibrillation and myocardial injury.