bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
477Partial fusion of two aortic valve leaflets is related to alterations in ascending aorta flow: 4D flow CMR study
Authors: Guala A , Galian L , Teixido Tura G , Dux-Santoy L , Ruiz Munoz A , Granato C , Valente F , La Mura L , Gutierrez L , Lopez Sainz A , Johnson K M , Wieben O , Sao Aviles A , Evangelista A , Rodriguez-Palomares J F 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Introduction
Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital valve defect. It consists in the fusion of two aortic valve leaflets, and it is associated with a high prevalence of proximal aorta dilation. Dilation is highly prevalent (around 30%) in BAV patient relatives with a tricuspid valve (TAV) identified by echocardiography. However, the presence of partial aortic valve leaflet fusion (also called mini-raphe or forme fruste BAV, see figure 1A) is easily missed by echocardiography. A recent study reported that 44% of patients from a small cohort of BAV patient relatives with aortic dilation followed by CT showed mini-raphe.

Purpose
We aimed to use 4D flow CMR to assess if the presence of mini-raphe is associated with aortic flow alterations, which may be concurs in the etiology of aortic dilation in BAV patient relatives.

Methods
Twenty BAV patients first-degree relatives with partial fusion (<50%) of aortic valve leaflets and proximal aorta dilation were identified by CT or cine CMR and prospectively included. One-hundred twenty-five BAV and 95 patients with TAV from our prospective dataset of 4D flow CMR were included for comparison. Propensity score matching was used throughout the study to correct the comparisons between mini-raphe and BAV and mini-raphe and TAV patients for differences in age, maximum aortic diameter, sex, height, weight, proximal aortic pulse wave velocity and, only for BAV, fusion pattern. The hemodynamic parameters previously related to aortic dilation were computed. They were jet angle, normalized flow displacement and systolic flow reversal ratio (SFRR, identifying through-plane vortexes) were computed and compared in the ascending aorta and in the aortic arch.

Results
The presence of mini-raphe was statistically-significantly associated with increase in jet angle (Figure 1B), flow displacement (Figure 1C) and vortexes (Figure 1D) in most of the ascending aorta and aortic arch when mini-raphe patients were compared with TAV patients. The severity of flow asymmetry found in mini-raphe patients was lower than the one characteristic of BAV patients, but vortexes were even higher in a small region at the distal ascending aorta.
Figure 1

Conclusion
Partial fusion of the aortic valve leaflets is related to increase in proximal aorta flow eccentricity and vorticity. These flow abnormalities are not as marked as those associated with BAV. Data regarding prevalence of mini-raphe as evaluated with CT or cine CMR are needed, especially in familiar of BAV patients.

Acknowledgement/Funding
European FP7/People 267128; Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness RTC-2016-5152-1 and Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI14/0106
481Right ventricular longitudinal strain predicts symptoms in patients with chronic primary mitral regurgitation
Authors: Chilingaryan A L , Tunyan L G , Adamyan K G 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Mitral regurgitation (MR) leads to subclinical changes that often cannot be detected by low sensitive conventional parameters and early predictors of deterioration could suggest a better timing for intervention.

Methods
We follow up 175 asymptomatic patients 56±13 years (79 female) with severe primary MR in sinus rhythm and without diabetes mellitus and renal disease for 2 years. Global longitudinal strain (LS) of left ventricle (LVGLS), right ventricular (RV) free wall LS (RVLS), and left atrial (LA) peak reservoir LS as average of two basal segments in 4 chamber view were measured by speckle tracking along with indexes of LV end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes, LV ejection fraction (EF), left atrial end-systolic volume index (LAVi) every 6 months. Normal reference values of LS were obtained from age and sex matched 40 healthy controls.

Results
Patients with MR had higher LV ejection fraction (EF), LVGLS, LALS and lower values of RVLS compared with controls (EF 67.4±5% vs 59.3±4%, p<0.05; LVGLS –25.2±2.3% vs –21.2±1.9%, p<0.03; LALS 46.2±5.1% vs 42.4±3.7%, p<0.04; RVLS –23.4±5.1% vs –27.3±2.8%, p<0.03). 53 (30%) patients developed symptoms at exercise during follow up. Symptomatic patients at baseline had higher values of RVLS compared with patients who remained asymptomatic during follow up without significant differences in EF, LVGLS, LALS (RVLS –21.4±2.6% vs –25.8±3.2%, p<0.02; EF 66.8±2.4% vs 68.1±3.1%, p>0.05; LVGLS –24.8±2.1% vs –25.3±2.3%, p>0.05; LALS 45.7±4.1% vs 46.5±4.4%, p>0.05). RVLS correlated with LAVi (r=0.53, p<0.01) and LALS (r=0.57, p<0.01). Regression analysis defined RVLS as an independent predictor of symptoms development (OR=3.2; 95% CI=1.37–7.63; p<0.01).

Conclusion
RV longitudinal strain predicts symptoms in patients with chronic primary mitral regurgitation.
P316The cardiac endothelial cell transcriptome in neonatal, adult, and remodeling hearts
Authors: Segers V F M , Vermeulen Z , Mateiu L , Dugaucquier L , De Keulenaer G W 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMVECs) are the most numerous cells in the myocardium and orchestrate cardiogenesis during development, regulate adult cardiac function, and modulate pathophysiology of heart failure. It has been shown that the transcriptome of CMVECs differs from other endothelial cell types, but transcriptomic changes in cardiac endothelial cells during cardiac maturation and cardiac remodeling have not been studied earlier.

Purpose
To study changes in the transcriptome of CMVECs during cardiac maturation and cardiac remodeling, and to test the hypothesis that the fetal gene program is reactivated during cardiac remodeling in CVMECs.

Methods
CMVECs were isolated from rat hearts based on CD31 expression and were immediately processed for RNA sequencing, without an in vitro propagation step. We compared gene expression levels from primary CMVECs of neonatal hearts, normal adult hearts, and infarcted-hearts (4 weeks post LAD ligation).

Results
Between neonatal and adult CMVECs, 6838 genes were differentially expressed indicating that CMVECs undergo a substantial transformation during postnatal cardiac growth. A large fraction of genes upregulated in neonatal CMVECs are part of mitosis pathways, whereas a large fraction of genes upregulated in adult CMVECs are part of cellular response, secretory, signaling, and cell adhesion pathways. Between CMVECs of normal adult hearts and infarcted hearts, 159 genes were differentially expressed. We found a limited degree of overlap (55 genes) between the differentially expressed genes in neonatal and infarcted-hearts. Of 46 significantly upregulated genes in the infarcted heart, 46% were also upregulated in neonatal hearts relative to sham. Of 113 significantly downregulated genes in the infarcted-hearts, 30% were also downregulated in neonatal hearts relative to sham.

Conclusion
These data demonstrate that CMVECs undergo dramatic changes from neonatal to adult and more subtle changes between normal state and cardiac remodeling. During cardiac remodeling, a small part of the fetal gene program is reactivated in CMVECs.

Acknowledgement/Funding
IOF/SBO research grant (PID34923), Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (Application numbers 1501118N and 1842219N).
P325Incremental value of left atrial strain in predicting atrial fibrillation in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Jasic-Szpak E , Marwick T H , Przewlocka-Kosmala M , Jankowska E A , Ponikowski P , Kosmala W 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a frequent comorbidity in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), worsening the clinical course. Although various contributors to the development of AF have been identified, effective screening strategies to prevent this arrhythmia are ill-defined.

Aim
To investigate the factors associated with incident AF in a well-characterized HFpEF population, with special focus on left atrial (LA) strain.

Methods
170 pts with symptomatic HFpEF (mean age 65±8 yrs), free of baseline AF, underwent clinical evaluation, echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. AF was diagnosed by clinical review, standard ECG, and single lead portable ECG monitoring.

Results
Over a median follow-up of 49 months, incident AF was identified in 39/170 pts (23%). Pts who developed AF were older, had higher clinical risk scores, BNP, creatinine, LA volume index (LAVI), LV mass, lower LA strain, exercise capacity, and more impaired LV diastolic function. The highest areas under ROC curves for AF prediction were for peak-atrial contraction strain (PACS; 0.76), total peak-atrial longitudinal strain (PALS; 0.71) and LAVI (0.72). Nested Cox regression models showed that the predictive value of LA strain was independent from and incremental to clinical data, LAVI and E/e' ratio estimating LV filling pressure (Figure). Addition of total PALS to the model including CHA2DS2VASc score, LAVI and E/e' improved classification by 37% (p=0.04), and subsequent addition of PACS improved classification by 54% (p=0.003).
Figure 1

Conclusions
LA strain, especially PACS, provides incremental predictive information about incident AF in HFpEF. The inclusion of LA strain to the diagnostic algorithm may help guide screening for AF risk in this population.
P332Comparative efficacy of intracoronary agents for acute treatment of coronary no-reflow: a network meta-analysis
Authors: Stibleichinger M , Wendt J , Hofbauer F , Klappacher G 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Coronary no-reflow is a potentially lethal complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). There is a growing body of evidence on how to best prevent this condition by the proper stenting technique and other mechanical measures or adjunctive drug treatments. However, it is still controversial how to tackle coronary no-reflow when it occurs.

Purpose
We aimed to compare and rank intracoronary agents for acute treatment of coronary no-reflow by considering both indirect and direct evidence from the literature in a network meta-analysis.

Methods
We searched the databases PubMed, Embase and Central for randomised controlled trials of the acute treatment of coronary no-reflow following primary PCI in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-STEMI. Trials with patients suffering from stable angina and/or receiving elective PCI, observational study design and no measure of coronary flow were excluded. Two blinded reviewers independently collected studies, assessed risk of bias with the Cochrane risk of bias tool and extracted data. The primary outcome was a measure of coronary flow immediately following the intervention (TIMI flow grade, TIMI frame count or myocardial bush grade), secondary outcome were major adverse cardiovascular events during follow-up. Pairwise and network meta-analysis were performed using the random-effects model within a frequentist framework.

Results
8 studies with a total of 540 participants were identified, including 4 multi-arm studies. This enabled 19 pairwise comparisons of 12 different treatments, all administered via intracoronary route (ADE=adenosine, DIL=diltiazem, DIP=dipyridamole, NIT= nitroglycerin, NPR=nitroprusside, PLA=placebo, TIR=tirofiban, U+V=urokinase combined with verapamil, URA=urapidil, URO=urokinase, VER=verapamil X+T= Xuesaitong combined with tirofiban). Overall, risk of bias in these studies was rated moderate. For graphical representation of the network for the primary outcome, see left panel of the figure. It exhibited a low level of inconsistency and heterogeneity with a global I2 value of 20.9%. Among the different treatments, URA, X+T, and TIR were more effective in re-establishing coronary flow with the caveat that the results of URA depended on one singular trail with a large variance, see right panel of the figure. NIT was even slightly worse than placebo in the primary outcome, the other agents were equivalent with placebo. In terms of major cardiovascular events during follow-up, TIR exhibited a protective effect compared with placebo at borderline statistical significance (OR 0.3843 [95% CI 0.1488; 0.9923]. For URA, data on secondary outcome were not available.

Conclusions
Urapidil and Tirofiban are potentially effective candidate drugs for larger randomised controlled trials, which are needed to validate the sparse evidence that is available to date on the acute treatment of coronary no-reflow.
P337Natural history, reversibility and arrhythmias associated with truncating titin variants in dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Vissing C R , Rasmussen T B , Olesen M S , Pedersen L N , Dybro A , Bundgaard H , Jensen M , Christensen A H 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Truncating genetic variants in titin (TTNtv) are identified in 15–25% of patients with primary dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Previous genotype/phenotype studies have reported conflicting results regarding disease severity and pathologic features associated with TTNtv.

Purpose
To investigate the natural history, reversibility and burden of arrhythmias associated with TTNtv in a Danish cohort with long-term follow-up.

Methods
Patients with DCM, recruited from two Danish tertiary centers, were included based on the presence of a TTNtv in a cardiac expressed titin exon. Data on patients' medical history including symptoms, demography, family history, comorbidities, treatment, ECG features, and echocardiograms were registered. Outcome data including all-cause mortality, need of heart transplantation (HTX) or left ventricular assist device (LVAD), and presence of ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias were registered. Left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) was defined as an absolute increase in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥10% points or normalization.

Results
A total of 104 patients (71 men, 69%; 72 probands) with definite TTNtv-DCM were included. The mean age at DCM diagnosis was (mean±SD) 45±13 years (43±13 for men; 49±14 for women, p<0.04) and median follow-up was 8.1 years. The mean LVEF was 28±13% at time of diagnosis (26±12% for men; 30±13% for women, p=0.173). During follow-up, 31 patients (30%; 24 men) died or needed HTX/LVAD. Medical therapy was associated with LVRR in 79% of patients 3.6 years after diagnosis. LVRR was maintained long-term in 64% of patients. Women had a better response to medical therapy compared to men (mean LVEF increase 19%; vs 15% in men, p<0.04). Atrial fibrillation/flutter was observed in 40% of patients and ventricular arrhythmias in 23% of patients. Men had an earlier occurrence of both supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias (p=0.005) with half of the men having experienced an arrhythmia at the age of 54 years.
Freedom from arrhythmias with age

Conclusion
TTNtv leads to a DCM phenotype associated with a marked gender-difference in age at DCM diagnosis and high burden of both supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. Importantly, the DCM-TTNtv phenotype was associated with a high degree of reversibility of systolic function following medical therapy.
P340Inflammatory cardiomyopathy in Fabry disease
Authors: Bicho Augusto J A , Nordin S , Kozor R , Vijapurapu R , Knott K , Ramaswami U , Geberhiwot T D , Steeds R P , Baig S , Hughes D , Moon J C 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in α-galactosidase A. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has helped unveil the pathogenesis of Fabry cardiomyopathy: sphingolipid storage (low T1 mapping values), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and myocardial fibrosis with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) characteristically present in the basal inferolateral (BIFL) wall. Recent evidence has suggested that the LGE may be inflammation and oedema as part of this pathogenic process.

Purpose
To assess the presence of inflammation in patients with FD using T2 mapping (for oedema/inflammation) supported by blood troponin levels (showing myocyte death and by inference inflammation).

Methods
A multi-centre international study in gene positive FD patients using CMR and blood biomarkers. All participants underwent CMR at 1.5 T. Native T1 and T2 mapping were performed. The T1 mapping sequence was MOLLI with sampling scheme in seconds. LGE used a phase sensitive inversion recovery sequence. Global longitudinal 2D strain (GLS) values were obtained using feature tracking analysis. Blood high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) was measured on the same day.

Results
100 FD patients (age 43.8±1.3 years, 42% male) were included. 45% had LVH, 35% LGE. Low T1 mapping (normal <943ms) was found in 49% and 33% had high hsTnT values (normal <15ng/L). Mean T2 mapping values were 52.6±0.6ms in the BIFL wall and 49.5±0.3ms in the remote myocardium/septum (p<0.001, normal <53ms). T2 values in the BIFL wall were significantly higher among patients with LGE (58.2±6.1ms vs 49.2±3.1ms, p<0.001, Figure 1). In a per-segment analysis of 1600 segments, higher T2 values correlated positively with percentage of LGE per segment (r=0,262, p<0.001), T1 values (r=0,205, p<0.001), maximum wall thickness (r=0,253, p<0.001) and GLS values (r=0,212, p<0.001). HsTnT values were higher among patients with LGE (median of 31 vs 3ng/L in patients without LGE, p<0.001). There was a strong positive correlation between T2 values in the BIFL wall and ln(hsTnT) (r=0.776, p<0.001, Figure 2). The strongest predictor of increased hsTnT in multivariate analysis (age, sex, LVH, septum T1, T2 in the BIFL, GLS, LGE) was T2 in the BIFL wall (β=0.4, p=0.001).

Conclusions
Cardiac involvement in FD goes beyond storage (low T1 values). When LGE is present, this is almost always associated with a high T2 and troponin elevation supporting FD as a chronic inflammatory cardiomyopathy. Initial reports of LGE being fibrosis are too simplistic – LGE in FD appears to have a significant chronic inflammation/oedema component.
P345Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation is associated with lower incidence of stroke, major bleeding and death: data from Korean health registries
Authors: Joung B , Yang P S , Sung J H , Jang E S , Yu H T , Kim T H , Pak H N , Lee M H 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Compared with antiarrhythmic drug therapy, catheter ablation of AF reduces the number of AF episodes, prolongs the time in sinus rhythm, and improves quality of life. However, it is still unclear if catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) affects the prognosis or merely is a symptomatic treatment. Our objective was to compare long-term outcome regarding stroke, major bleeding and death in AF patients with and without ablation, and in relation to long-term exposure to anticoagulants.

Methods
We identified all 800,084 patients with a diagnosis of AF from 2006 to 2015 in the Korean national health insurance service database. During a 10-year period, 10,979 AF ablations were performed among 9,768 individuals. Propensity scores for the likelihood of AF ablation were obtained by logistic regression. Propensity score (PS) matching was used to construct two cohorts of equal size (n=9,768) with similar characteristics in 16 dimensions.

Results
Patients who had undergone catheter ablation were younger (57.2 vs. 65.6 years, P<0.001) and healthier (mean CHA2DS2-VASc scores 2.5±1.7 vs. 3.6±2.1, P<0.001) than other patients with AF. Mean follow-up was 5.5±3.1 years. After propensity score matching, in the ablated group, 472 patients suffered ischemic stroke/systemic embolism (SE) compared with 1,682 in the matched non-ablated (annual rates 2.92 vs. 1.10%, P<0.001). Major bleeding occurred in 439 and 1,219 patients in ablated and non-ablated (annual rates 2.07 vs. 1.01%, P<0.001). A total of 306 ablated and 1,439 non-ablated patients died (annual rates 2.31 vs. 0.69%, P<0.001). After multivariable adjustments, catheter ablation was associated with lower risk of ischemic stroke [hazard ratio (HR) 0.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.38–0.67), lower risk of major bleeding (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.57–0.75) and with lower mortality risk (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.34–0.46). The reduction of stroke/SE and mortality was observed after AF ablation regardless thromboembolic risk. Major bleeding was reduced only among patients with CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥2 (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.59–0.84).

Conclusion
We found a strong association between ablation and survival. Ablation may be associated with lower incidence of ischemic stroke and major bleeding in patients with AF. The reduction of stroke/SE and mortality was observed regardless thromboembolic risk after AF ablation. But the risk of major bleeding was reduced only in patients with high thromboembolic risk factors.
P574Accuracy of wrist-worn heart rate monitors for chronotropic assessment in atrial fibrillation
Authors: Al-Kaisey A , Koshy A , Ha F J , Sajeev J , Toner L , Spencer R , Teh A , Farouque O , Lim H S 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Introduction
Wrist-worn fitness and heart rate (HR) monitors are increasingly popular. Previous studies in healthy participants with sinus rhythm (SR) have yielded variable results depending on HR, activity levels and device tested. A paucity of data exists on their accuracy in atrial fibrillation (AF) in ambulatory patients.

Purpose
We sought to assess the HR accuracy of 2 commercially available smart watches (Fitbit Charge HR [FB] and Apple Watch Series 3 [AW]) compared with Holter monitoring in an ambulant patient cohort.

Methods
Patients aged >18 years referred for 24-hour Holter monitoring were prospectively recruited. The Holter monitor was the criterion measure. Each patient was randomly allocated to either a FB or AW along with their Holter monitor. The study protocol was approved by the institutional review board.
Statistical analysis: Pearson (r) correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman comparison with 95% limits of agreement (LoA) were evaluated to assess criterion validity and agreement between the smart watch and Holter ECG-HR. Bias was the calculated mean difference between the smart watch and ECG-HR. A ± 10-beat different between Holter-HR and SW-HR was used as a clinically relevant range to establish the accuracy of HR estimation by SW.

Results
Across all devices, 53,288 hear rate values were recorded from 32 patients. Twenty six patients were in persistent AF and six were in SR. Twelve patients wore the FB while 20 wore the AW. In the FB arm, nice patient were in persistent AF and three in SR. In the AW arm, persistent AF was the rhythm in seventeen and SR in three. Patients in SR demonstrated overall strong agreement compared to Holter monitoring (Mean Bias <1 beat, LoA −11 to 11 beats) and a correlation coefficient of 0.87 (p<0.001). In AF, both devices underestimated HR measurements (Overall Bias −9 beats, LoA −41 to 23, r=0.60, p<0.001). The AW had lower bias and narrower LoA compared to FB (−5 beats vs −13 beats, LoA −31 to 21 beats vs −50 to 22 beats). Using a ± 10-beat range against ECG-HR for clinical accuracy, both the AW and FB performed satisfactorily in SR with 95.2% of AW and 92.2% of FB HR readings considered valid. In AF, however, the AW-HR readings were within the ± 10-beat threshold in 76.5% of the time compared with only 56.1% of FB readings.

Conclusion
In ambulatory patients, smart watches were accurate in HR estimation when compared to Holter monitor in SR; however tended to underestimate HR in AF. Further improvements in device technology are needed before the widespread consumer adoption of this nascent technology for chronotropic assessment in arrhythmias.