Contrast echocardiography is widely used in echocardiographic laboratories. When used at rest or with a stress test, it provides complementary information concerning myocardial perfusion not available with conventional imaging. Its applications in the evaluation of left ventricular ejection fraction, the detection of coronary stenosis and the no reflow phenomenon in acute myocardial infarction have been validated. Advances in our understanding of the interaction between the microbubbles and ultrasound have led to considering the microbubble not just as a vascular tracer but also as a vector of active molecules. The detection of angiogenesis, thrombi, or intravascular inflammation are possible with contrast echocardiography. Therefore, new perspectives in myocardial contrast echo are opening up in therapeutics. Preliminary studies in the animal suggest that it may be possible to use microbubbles to deliver drugs or genetic material to the heart of the cardiomyocytes.
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J Interv Card Electrophysiol
January 2025
Divison of Arrhythmia, Cardiology and Vascular Department, St. David's Medical Center, Austin, TX, USA.
Background: The relationship between premature ventricular contractions (PVC) and right ventricular (RV) function is not widely known. Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction due to PVC is known as PVC-induced cardiomyopathy (PIC) and suppressing the PVC substrate would improve LV function. The effect of PVC ablation on changes in RV function in patients with subtle RV subclinical dysfunction remains unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPediatr Cardiol
January 2025
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA.
Fetal echocardiography (FE) is recommended for parents with congenital heart disease (pCHD) due to a 3-6% recurrence risk of congenital heart disease (CHD). This study aimed to evaluate the cost of FE for detecting neonatal CHD in pCHD. FE data were collected between 12/2015 and 12/2022.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArch Gynecol Obstet
January 2025
Department of Congenital Cardiac Surgery, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, 20097, San Donato, Milan, Italy.
Objectives: Congenital thoracic masses (CTMs) are suspected in presence of solid or cystic thoracic lesions at ultrasound. The common typical fetal CTMs encompass: hyperechogenic lung lesions such as congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM), broncopulmonary sequestration (PS) and congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS); less common solid thoracic masses are mediastinal/pericardial tumors as rhabdomyoma and teratoma. The aim of our study is to gather the available evidence on cases of atypical CTMs of difficult classification, for which the diagnosis remains often uncertain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMed J Malaysia
January 2025
Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Selangor Kampus Puncak Alam, Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
Introduction: The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) predominantly impacts the pulmonary system; however, it also has harmful consequences for the cardiovascular system through the occurrence of myocardial injury.
Materials And Methods: This retrospective study analysed 119 COVID-19 patients admitted to Al-Sultan Abdullah Hospital (HASA) from March until December 2020. Demographics, medical histories, admission laboratory results, electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram (echo), were captured from the hospitals' health records.
Tunis Med
January 2025
University of Sfax, Military University Hospital of Sfax, Cardiology Department, Sfax, Tunisia.
Introduction: Nemaline myopathy (NM), also known as Nemalinosis, is a rare congenital muscle disease with an incidence of 1 in 50000. It is characterized by nemaline rods in muscle fibers, leading to muscle weakness. We reported a case of NM revealed by cardiac involvement, and we highlighted the challenges in diagnosing this condition as well as its poor prognosis.
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