bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Machine-learning phenotyping of patients with functional mitral regurgitation undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge repair - the MITRA-AI study
Authors: Angelini F , D'ascenzo F , Pancotti C , Perl L , Adamo M , Bocchino P P , Cavallone E , Morici N , Crimi G M , Roubin S R , Boretto P , Dusi V , Templin C , Frea S , De Ferrari G M 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Severe functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) may benefit from transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR), but selection of patients remains to be optimised.

Objectives
The aim of this study was to use Machine-Learning (ML) approaches to uncover concealed connections between clinical, echocardiographic, and hemodynamic data associated with patients' outcomes.

Methods
Consecutive patients undergoing TMVR from 2009 to 2020 were included in the MITRA-AI registry. Eleven relevant clinical and echocardiographic variables were selected in a clustering-based model. The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalisation at one year, while its single components were secondary endpoints. External validation was performed on the Mitrascore dataset and comparison between clustering and Mitrascore was performed with Net Reclassification Index (NRI). Moreover cluster assignment was performed also on a cohort of patients with moderate-to-severe MR treated with medical therapy alone.

Results
822 patients were included in the derivation cohort. The composite primary endpoint occurred in 250 (30%) patients. Four clusters with decreasing risk of the primary endpoint were identified (42%, 37%, 25% and 20% from cluster 1 to cluster 4, respectively). Clusters were combined into a high-risk (clusters 1 and 2) and a low-risk phenotype (clusters 3 and 4). High-risk phenotype patients had larger LVs (&gt; 107 ml/m2), lower LVEF (&lt; 35%) and more prevalent ischemic aetiology (51% to 60% vs. 30% to 40%) compared to low-risk phenotype patients. Moreover, within the high-risk group, patients with diabetes mellitus and with advanced age were at increased risk. Within the low-risk group, ischemic aetiology increased the risk of cardiovascular death, while permanent atrial fibrillation amplified that of HF hospitalizations. In the Mitrascore validation cohort of 1119 patients, incidence of the primary end point varied consistently (48%, 52%, 35% and 42%). Clustering achieved a NRI in 27% of the patients in the derivation cohort and 7% in the validation group compared to Mitrascore. In the validation group of 207 patients treated medically, the incidence of the primary endpoint decreased from the first to the fourth cluster (53%, 42%, 30% and 30%).

Conclusions
A ML analysis identified meaningful clinical phenotypic presentations in FMR undergoing TMVR, with significant differences in terms of cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalizations, confirmed in an external validation cohort. ML phenotyping also discriminated prognosis of medically treated patients with severe MR.Central Figure
Mitral annular dynamics after transcatheter edge-to-edge repair for functional mitral regurgitation: comparison with surgical annuloplasty
Authors: Terada M , Kagiyama N , Izumi Y , Higuchi R , Saji M , Kitamura M , Tskamisawa I , Nanasato M , Iwakura T , Isobe M 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) is a recently emerged therapeutic option for functional mitral regurgitation (FMR). Although the mitral annular shape and function may play an important role in the pathophysiology of FMR, few reports have evaluated the impact of TEER. We sought to investigate the impact of TEER on the mitral annulus and its motion in FMR compared with that of mitral annuloplasty (MAP).

Methods
Using three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography, we evaluated the mitral annular morphology and dynamic motion in patients who underwent TEER or MAP before and after the procedures. Mitral annulus analysis was performed by a semi-automatic program to create a dynamic model of the three-dimensional structure, where the end-systolic annular structure was semi-automatically annotated and manually corrected, followed by automatic tracking of the annulus throughout the cardiac cycle . The mitral annular parameters such as mitral annular diameters, area, circumference, and height at all frames were automatically calculated from the model. In order to align the cardiac phase in each patient (i.e. to set the start and the end of diastole and systole at the same time for all patient), data were spline-interpolated to 100 systolic and 200 diastolic frames and then statistically analyzed. The dynamic changes of the parameters during the cardiac cycle were calculated as (maximum – minimum value) / maximum value after the interpolation.

Results
Patients who underwent TEER (n=20, 69±15 years, 40% female) and those who underwent MAP (n=16, 64±11 years, 6% female) had similar echocardiographic characteristics before the procedures. The maximum anteroposterior diameter and annulus area decreased after both TEER and MAP, while the intercommissural diameter decreased only after MAP but not after TEER. After TEER, the dynamic change in anteroposterior diameter throughout the cardiac cycle tended to decrease (p=0.055), while intercommissural change rather increased (p=0.049), resulting in preserved change in annulus area (p=0.74). After MAP, changes in both diameters and area decreased significantly (all p&lt;0.05). MAP was associated with postoperative mitral annulus area immobility after adjustment (p=0.030).

Conclusions
The dynamic motion of the mitral annulus in patients with FMR was better preserved after TEER than after MAP. There was a decreasing trend in anteroposterior motion, which was compensated for by intercommissural motion after TEER. Future studies are needed to determine the association of these results with cardiac function and prognosis.
Prevalence, characteristics and significance of anomalous coronary arteries in adults undergoing cardiac CT scans
Authors: Noman A , Jathanna N , Obafemi M T , Dubois-Marshall S , Marasinghe I , Vithanage T , Rekhraj S 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background/introduction
The widespread use of CT coronary angiogram (CTCA) for the evaluation of patients with suspected coronary artery disease has resulted in increased identification of anomalous coronary arteries. These are often incidental findings and their prevalence and significance remains unknown.

Purpose
To identify the prevalence, characteristics and significance of anomalous coronary arteries in patient undergoing cardiac CT for suspected coronary artery disease.

Methods
This is a retrospective analysis of all cardiac CT scans (n= 5727 CTCAs) performed at two tertiary centres in the UK from 2015 to 2022. For the purpose of this study, we excluded separate LAD and circumflex artery coronary origins given it is clinical non-significance.

Results
Eighty three patients (1.45%) were identified as having anomalous coronary arteries. The average age of patients with anomalous coronary arteries was 57 years (range 18 - 86 years) and 36% were female. The most common coronary anomaly was the left circumflex artery arising from the right side (49 patients, 59%) and all had a retroaortic course. This was followed by an anomalous right coronary artery arising from the left side (29 patients, 35%) with 93% of them taking an interarterial course whilst 7% had a subpulmonic course. We also identified an anomalous left main stem (14 patients, 17%) arising from the right side (5 retroaortic, 5 subpulmonic, 2 prepulmonic, 1 anterior and 1 interarterial course). Four patients (5%) had an anomalous LAD arising from the right (2 prepulmonic, 1 subpulmonic and 1 anterior course). Four patients had other coronary anomalies (left circumflex artery arising from right pulmonary artery, OM arising from left ventricle, congenital atresia of left main stem and an ALCAPA). Majority of the patients with an anomalous coronary artery taking an interarterial course underwent a stress test. During a mean follow-up period of 4 years, four patients (5%) underwent cardiac surgery for treatment of anomalous coronary artery (ALCAPA, left main stem atresia and two anomalous right with interarterial course), seven patients underwent cardiac surgery for other reasons (significant atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and/or valve disease), five patients underwent PCI for treatment of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and two patients died for reasons unrelated to their coronary anomaly.

Conclusion
This study of a large and unselected cohort of CTCA patients demonstrates an overall prevalence of coronary artery anomalies (as defined above) of 1.45%. We also report the prevalence and characteristics of different coronary anomalies and their outcomes. In the majority of patients, coronary artery anomalies are incidental findings and can be managed conservatively.
Improvement of endorgan function following tricuspid edge-to-edge repair
Authors: Jorde U , Benza R , Whisenant B , Makkar R , Tadros P , Naik H , Fam N , Sauer A , Murthy S , Kar S , Von Bardeleben R , Hahn R , Hamid N , Adams D , Sorajja P 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background/Introduction
Subjects with severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) often suffer from impaired endorgan function. The potential to improve endorgan function is an important goal of treatment.

Purpose
To assess baseline endorgan function and changes in organ function following transcatheter edge-to-edge repair with the TriClip device in subjects with severe TR from the TRILUMINATE Pivotal randomized controlled trial.

Methods
Right heart catheterization was required prior to enrollment; medication history was collected. Changes in biomarkers, including MELD-XI, GGT, eGFR, BUN, and TR and KCCQ overall summary score were assessed at baseline and 12-month follow-up for all enrolled subjects. A 15% improvement in biomarker levels was considered clinically relevant. The odds of achieving a 15% improvement in biomarkers between baseline and 12-month follow-up was compared between the Device and Control groups (presented as OR [95% CI]).

Results
A total of 572 subjects were enrolled and randomized. At baseline, subjects had elevated levels of GGT (83.0±87.7 U/L) and MELD-XI score (10.3±5.2), low eGFR (56.7±21.0 mL/min/1.73m2), and elevated BUN (29.5±16.7 mg/dL). Nearly 90% of subjects were on loop diuretics, with approximately 50% taking these in combination with a thiazide or potassium-sparing diuretic. The average diuretic dosage was 71 mg (furosemide equivalent). Most subjects had normal left ventricle ejection fraction (only 5% with LVEF &lt;40%). Subjects had well-managed blood pressure (systolic: 122±13 mmHg, diastolic: 69±10), slightly elevated central venous pressures (12±6 mmHg), systolic pulmonary artery pressures (40±10 mmHg) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressures (15±4 mmHg), and normal transpulmonary gradients (11±4 mmHg).
The odds of achieving a 15% improvement in liver and renal function was higher in TriClip patients compared to control: MELD-XI score (1.79 [1.22, 2.63]), GGT (1.83 [1.21, 2.77]), and eGFR (1.81 [1.18, 2.77]) - Fig 1.
The favorable changes in organ function observed were also reflected when stratifying subjects by residual TR severity: The odds of a 15% biomarker improvement favored subjects with moderate or less residual TR for MELD-XI score (2.05 [1.39, 3.00]), GGT (1.91 [1.26, 2.90]), and eGFR (1.83 [1.20, 2.80]) compared with subjects who had severe or worse residual TR. Lastly, improvement in these biomarkers also favored subjects with a 15-point or greater improvement in KCCQ compared with subjects with less than a 15-point KCCQ improvement.

Conclusions
Use of TriClip in subjects with severe tricuspid regurgitation was associated with improvement in kidney and liver function, and this improvement was associated with reduction in the severity of TR. These data provide the first objective evidence of the physiologic impact of TR reduction obtained in a randomized clinical trial.
A novel marker of cardiovascular risk stratification: the role of total cardiovascular calcium score using cardiac CT
Authors: Miranda I , Passos M , Gerardo F , Mateus C , Sarmento M , Magno P , Loureiro J , Roque D , Morais C , Augusto J 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Introduction
It is widely accepted that coronary and valve calcification measured by cardiac CT, individually, are associated with cardiovascular events and mortality. However, the role of an encompassing marker of cardiovascular atherosclerosis could be more representative of the real cardiovascular risk.

Objectives
To determine the prognostic value of a combined coronary, valvular and aortic calcium score to predict long-term major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE).

Methods
We conducted a single center study on 316 consecutive patients who underwent cardiac CT scan between January 2018 and December 2019. We excluded patients with poor imaging quality, constrictive pericarditis, prosthetic valves and/or devices. The calcium score of coronary arteries (CA), mitral valve (MV), aortic valve (AoV), ascending aorta (AAo) and aortic arch (AAc) were calculated from non-contrast ECG-gated CT using the Agatston method and were combined to derive a valvular (VA=MV+AoV), total cardiac (TC=CA+VA) and total cardiovascular (TCV=TC+AAo+AAc) calcium scores (Fig.1A). The primary endpoint was a composite of MACCE, defined as all-cause death, stroke, myocardial infarction and hospital admission for heart failure.

Results
A total of 275 CT scans were suitable for analysis. Mean age was 59.6±12.3 years, 48.4% were female. A total of 183 (66.7%) patients presented calcification in at least one location. Patients with calcification on any of the prespecified locations had higher prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) than those without any calcium (p&lt;0.05). After a median follow-up of 3.18 [IQR 2.84-3.69] years, 40 (14.5%) patients had met the primary endpoint. Regression analyses demonstrated that all CA, VA, TC and TCV scores were independent predictors of MACCE (p&lt;0.05 for all). The best prediction models included calcium score (all combinations), age, sex, type 2 DM and smoking status (Fig.1B). The model with TCV score was the most powerful predictor of MACCE (χ2 47.8), followed by TC score (χ2 43.1). Of interest, the model with CA score had the poorest performance (χ2 35.4).

Conclusion
Coronary calcium score is a quick way to stratify risk in clinical practice, but its performance is too focused on coronary events. Total cardiovascular calcium score, however, is more encompassing, also quick to measure, and a more truthful depiction of the patient’s cardiac and cerebrovascular risk, potentially allowing a more tailored and timely approach to risk factors in clinical practice.
Feature importance explanation of prosthetic valve endocarditis through machine learning via SHAP
Authors: Matorra L F , Scholtens A M , Traverso S , De Vrey E , Funes F , Aguero R , Cusimano S , Ruijsink B , Geronazzo R , Namias M , Juarez-Orozco L E 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Introduction
Diagnosing prosthetic valve endocarditis poses a significant challenge in daily clinical practice. Accurately identifying these patients is vital due to its treatment implications. Clinical and imaging assessment of suspected cases yields a substantial number of interrelated variables, which can be analyzed through machine learning techniques in order to improve diagnostic accuracy. Feature ranking facilitates identification and interpretability of relevant clinical and imaging variables in this task.

Purpose
To utilize machine learning feature ranking and modeling in order to improve interpretable identification of patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis.

Methods
89 cases defined by the endocarditis team and 173 controls were analyzed. We implemented the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method to evaluate feature importance. 5-fold cross-validated Xgboost models were trained and independently tested with additive clinical, echocardiographic and 18F-FDG PET/CT data. Performance was evaluated through confusion matrices, F1-scores and AUCs. These were compared against conventional logistic regression of the Duke Criteria classification.

Results
Mean age was 59.6 ± 15.7, with 29.7% women. 14 clinical (demographic, laboratory and cultures), 2 echocardiographic, and 5 PET/CT features were included. The XGBoost model trained with all additive features demonstrated an AUC of 0.91±0.1 and outperformed simpler models as well as the Duke classification model (AUC=0.85). The clinical variables alone achieved an AUC of 0.85±0.11, while integration with echocardiography enhanced its performance to 0.90±0.04 (Fig. 1). Feature ranking demonstrated that antibiotic treatment duration, positive blood cultures, valve type, weight and CRP were the most relevant clinical variables, while the presence of vegetation or abscess, and abnormal uptake and uptake focality on PET/CT represented the most relevant imaging variables (Fig. 2).

Conclusion
Machine learning-based feature ranking and modeling may significantly enhance identification of patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis beyond standard clinical criteria. Feature selection offers interpretable performance in identifying these cases, model testing in clinical decision support may be warranted.Fig. 1:Comparative AUC Analysis.Fig. 2:SHAP feature importance.
Development and validation of a smartphone based app to guide the differential diagnosis in patients with primary left ventricular hypertrophy: the Thick Heart App
Authors: Maurizi N , Skalidis I , Fumagalli C , Monda E , Kasky J P , Pieroni M , Limongelli G , Olivotto I 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Introduction
Patients presenting with primary Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) suffers from a diagnostic delay quantified in years. They are often misdiagnosed because of both physician-related and disease-related reasons including fragmented knowledge among different specialties and rarity of the conditions.

Purpose
We developed and validate a free digital support tool in the form of an App to provide support and to guide the physician in the differential diagnostic process of patients presenting with primary LVH.

Methods
We studied 712 patients with definitive diagnosis of sarcomeric HCM or one of its genocopies (414 (58%) males, 48±24 years) referred to four tertiary centers in Europe. Pre-specified RF were categorized into five domains: family history; signs/symptoms; electrocardiography, echocardiographic and laboratory. Each patient’s characteristics were inserted by two independent and blind investigators on the App of the digital support tool. The possible diagnostic outcome was categorized as follows: (a) most likely diagnosis (age range for the condition, at least 1 extremely specific RFs or &gt;1 specific RF; (b) possible diagnosis (age range, 1 specific RF); (c) less likely diagnosis (outside age range, no RF selected).

Results
Ris were common in patients presenting with a genotyped HCM (2568 RFs, 3.5 per patient). RF on physical examination was associated with non sarcomeric aetiology (318/319 physical examination RF identified in non-sarcomeric HCM), whereas 68% of RF associated with sarcomeric HCM were derived from accurate ECG and echocardiography analysis. Sarcomeric HCM, TTR-amyloidosis, Danon and PRKAG2 cardiomyopathy relied extensively on ECG and echocardiographic systematic analyisis (68%, 69%, 67% and 69% respectively). In contrast, AFD, Friederich’s ataxia, Noonan syndrome with multiple lentiges (NSML), mitochondrial, Pompe and Noonan cardiomyopathy presented red flags potentially identifiable in the general practioner setting by anamnesis, physical examination and routine laboratory (57%, 59%, 52%, 57%, 57% and 58% respectively) in the vast majority of case. A total of 697/712 (97.8%) were correctly categorized in the most likely and possible diagnosis section. The App proved to be sensible for sarcomeric HCM, FD (0.99 and 0.91, NPV 0.98 and 0.83) and extremely capable in the identification of rare causes of LVH (Danon, Friederich’s ataxia, LEOPARD, Pompe, Noonan and PRKAG2 diseases). By design, specificity was not high, in particular for sarcomeric HCM and FD.

Conclusions
The present validation of an App based free digital support tool in the form of an App proved to be extremely sensible in providing the support to the screening of different causes of primary LVH in patients presenting with a HCM phenotype. Further external and multicenter validation is warranted.
Dynamic changes of excessive trabeculation in dilated cardiomyopathy: a longitudinal cardiovascular magnetic resonance study
Authors: Kang Y , Huang S , Xu Y , Qu N , Li Y , Chen Y , Zhang Q 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
A portion of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients present with left ventricular (LV) excessive trabeculation at diagnosis. It remains unknown if the extent of trabeculation would be reduced after guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT).

Purpose
To investigate the dynamic change of excessive trabeculation after GDMT in patients with DCM, and its relationship with that in LV structure and function.

Methods
A group of DCM patients with baseline and follow-up cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) examination after 1-2 years of GDMT were enrolled. Trabeculation was assessed by Petersen method as measuring the thickness of the most prominent non-compacted (NC) layer and the corresponding compacted (C) segment at the apical long-axis view at end-diastole. Excessive trabeculation was defined as the NC/C ratio &gt; 2.3, and a regression was reached if it decreased to ≤ 2.3. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) consisted of cardiovascular death, heart transplantation, and heart failure readmission.

Results
Among 218 DCM patients (45 ± 14 years, 67.4% male), 58 (26.6%) met the excessive trabeculation criteria at baseline. Despite a similar LV ejection fraction (LVEF), patients with excessive trabeculation had a higher LV end-diastolic dimension (73.3 ± 9.0 vs. 70.5 ± 8.0mm) and native T1 (1325.3 ± 71.2 vs. 1305.5 ± 65.9mm) (both p&lt;0.05) with a trend of more late gadolinium enhancement (51.7% vs. 39.4% of patients). After 15 months of GDMT, patients with excessive trabeculation (n=58) showed a decreased NC layer (12.7 ± 3.4 vs. 11.3 ± 3.0 mm) and NC/C ratio (3.1 ± 0.9 vs. 2.7 ± 0.9) (both p &lt; 0.05), 25.9% of whom showed a regression of trabeculation. Patients with the regression had a lower NC/C ratio (1.8 ± 0.4 vs. 3.0 ± 0.8, p &lt; 0.001) and LV end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVi) (121.5 ± 40.5 ml/m2 vs. 165.9 ± 67.8ml/m2, p=0.004) compared with those without. The change of (△) NC/C ratio was associated with that of LVEDVi (r = 0.323), and LVEF as well (r = -0.254) (both p &lt; 0.001). Excessive trabeculation at baseline did not differentiate patients with a higher risk of MACE by Kaplan-Meier survival curve (p= 0.208), but its persistent presence at follow-up did (p= 0.004). However, when put △NC/C ratio, △LVEDVi, △LVEF and In NT-proBNP into multivariate cox regression model, only the △LVEDVi (HR, 0.963; 95% CI: 0.942, 0.985; P = 0.001) and In NT-proBNP (HR, 2.016; 95% CI: 1.288, 3.157; P = 0.002) were independent predictors of MACE.

Conclusions
Regression of excessive trabeculation occurred after GDMT in DCM patients that was related somewhat to LV reverse remodeling and not an independent predictor of MACE. It may also indicate the interconnection between LV remodeling and trabeculation.