bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Simultaneously assessed left ventricular strains and right ventricular longitudinal shortening are associated in healthy adults - a three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiographic study
Authors: Nemes A , Kormanyos A , Ambrus N , Lengyel C 
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Introduction
The right ventricle (RV) lies on the left ventricle (LV), their shape and function are characteristic and significantly different. To better understand the interaction between the LV and the RV in clinical settings even in healthy circumstances, imaging studies now available may help.

Purpose
The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE)-derived LV strains, which represent LV contractility as quantitative features, and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) as determined by M-mode echocardiography, which represents the longitudinal movement of the RV, in healthy adults.

Methods
Seventy-nine healthy adults (mean age 28.1±6.3 years, 33 men) were enrolled in the present study. After two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography, 3DSTE-derived data acquisition was carried out in all cases, and detailed 3DSTE-based analysis was performed offline at a later date.

Results
Subjects with reduced TAPSE (mean - standard deviation≤21 mm) had increased global (29.6±13.0% vs. 22.7±8.5%, p&lt;0.05) and basal (35.3± 14.9% vs. 27.5±12.1%, p&lt;0.05) LV radial strain (RS) as compared to cases with normal (mean) TAPSE (21 mm≤TAPSE≤27 mm). Increased TAPSE (mean+standard deviation≥27 mm) was also associated not only with increased basal LV-RS (34.2±10.4% vs. 27.5±12.1%, p&lt;0.05), but also with increased global LV longitudinal strain (LS)(-17.5±1.7% vs. 15.5±2.4%, p&lt;0.05). Increase of global LV-RS and LV circumferential strain (CS) showed associations with other strains except for global LV-LS. Increase of LV-LS did not show associations with other strains. If global LV-RS was less than mean - standard deviation (≤14.9%) TAPSE was 23.8±2.4 mm, when global LV-RS larger than mean + standard deviation (≥35.5%) TAPSE proved to be 22.2±3.2 with a significant difference in between (p&lt;0.05). Degree of global LV-LS and global LV-CS did not show associations with TAPSE.

Conclusions
3DSTE-derived LV-RS and LV-LS are associated with RV longitudinal shortening represented by TAPSE in healthy adults.
(Un)natural history of right ventricular function and exercise tolerance during adolescence following tetralogy of fallot repair
Authors: Bitterman Y , Bulic A , Friedberg M K 
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Introduction
Patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) develop progressive right ventricular (RV) dilatation and dysfunction in adulthood, which may have origins in childhood. Cohorts from previous eras studied patients who underwent primary repair at an older age with frequent use of palliative shunts. The trajectory of RV functional decline and its relation to exercise capacity and outcomes over childhood is poorly characterized.

Purpose
We sought to delineate changes in RV size, function, and exercise tolerance and occurrence of ventricular arrhythmia in a contemporary cohort of pediatric and adolescent rTOF.

Methods
We retrospectively reviewed serial echo, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and clinical data from all rTOF patients between 2010-2020. We excluded patients with significant residual lesions, RV pressure overload (RVSP&gt; half systemic) or without CMR data. Clinical data was recorded at 2-year intervals. We then compared CMR data and exercise tolerance at 10 to 16 years of age. Ventricular arrhythmias were defined based on Holter monitoring.

Results
We studied 95 rTOF patients (61% male). Pulmonary insufficiency fraction (31% vs 32%, p=0.8), RV size (RV end diastolic indexed volume 130 ml/m2 (117 – 167) vs. 140 ml/m2 (124 – 166), p=0.6) and RV free wall longitudinal strain (19.4±4.3% vs. 19.3±4.7%, p=0.86) remained stable at 10 and 16 years of age. CMR RVEF (51±6% vs. 47±5.3%, p=0.01) and exercise tolerance (95±17% vs. 81±14.4%, % predicted VO2, p=0.002, figure B) decreased with the advent of incident ventricular arrhythmias (figure A). There were no deaths.

Conclusions
Despite excellent survival in childhood, patients with rTOF develop worsening RV function, exercise intolerance and ventricular arrhythmias during adolescence. These are worrisome findings given the known increase in sudden death in the 3-4th decades of life that warrant further investigation into the underlying causes, their temporal development and therapeutic approaches.
Figure 1: A-Kaplan-Meier curve of incident ventricular and atrial arrhythmias. B- percentage of predicted VO2 during childhood.
Myocardial work analysis of aortic stenosis parients with right ventricular pacing: interaction of afterload and mechanical dyssynchrony?
Authors: Lakatos B K , Ladanyi Z , Turschl T , Fabian A , Tolvaj M , Balint T , Nagy D , Zima E , Molnar L , Nagy A , Kovacs A , Ruppert M , Merkely B 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
It is well known that left ventricular (LV) performance is substantially influenced by the corresponding loading conditions and LV synchrony. Notably, data are scarce about the interaction of these factors: previous studies suggest that patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) has increased afterload sensitivity. This phenomenon may have special importance in certain clinical situations, such as aortic stenosis (AS) patients with concomitant right ventricular pacing (RVP).
Accordingly, our aim was to investigate the effects of RVP on LV function in patients with severe AS before and after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
Patients with a previously implanted pacemaker and significant AS undergoing TAVR in our Institute were screened. Only subjects with intrinsic non-LBBB QRS were enrolled (n=31). Detailed echocardiographic protocol suitable for speckle-tracking and myocardial work analysis was obtained. Myocardial work measures were calculated by estimating LV pressure as the sum of the systolic blood pressure and the mean aortic gradient. The patients underwent two sets of echocardiographic examinations: one with their narrow QRS rhythm and one with RVP. Those patients (n=19), who did not develop LBBB or complete AV-block also underwent a post-TAVI protocol. We measured LV ejection fraction (EF), global longitudinal strain (GLS) and also global work index (GWI) and global wasted work (GWW).
Preoperatively, RVP resulted in significantly lower LV EF (55±9 vs. 49±10%, p≤0.001), GLS (-14.2±3.6 vs. -11.9±3.5%, p≤0.001) and GWI (1830±502 vs. 1322±546 mmHg%, p≤0.001) compared to narrow QRS rhythm, while GWW was markedly higher (222±129 vs. 344±146 mmHg%, p≤0.001). After TAVR, LV EF was comparable (55±9 vs. 52±8%, p=0.11), while GLS (-13.8±.3.8 vs. -11.4±3.8%, p≤0.001) and GWI (1360±403 vs. 1018±385 mmHg%, p≤0.01) was lower in RVP. Notably, the relative change in GWI in response to RVP was significantly lower after TAVR (-31±21 vs. -22±20%, p≤0.05).
In patients with severe AS, LV dyssynchrony associated with RVP results in markedly lower LV functional measures. TAVR alleviates LV pressure overload, and the detrimental effect of RVP may dampen with the afterload reduction. Significant AS and RVP may have a highly unfavorable interaction raising the need for early interventions in this population.
Myocardial stiffness decreases in decompensated heart failure patients after recompensation
Authors: Wouters L , Papangelopoulou K , Youssef A , D'hooge J , Voigt J U 
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Background
Cardiac shear wave elastography (SWE) allows for the non-invasive assessment of myocardial stiffness via the detection of shear waves (SW) travelling through the heart after e.g. mitral valve closure (MVC). The propagation speed of these waves is directly related to myocardial stiffness. Myocardial operational stiffness depends on the intrinsic properties of the myocardium as well as the loading conditions of the heart. Therefore, changing loading conditions, for example volume unloading under diuretics, could influence SW speed.

Purpose
To evaluate the effect of volume unloading on shear wave speed in patients with decompensated heart failure before and after intravenous diuretics.

Methods
Eleven patients with decompensated heart failure were included. SWE was performed in the first hours after they presented at the emergency room and a few days later before discharge of the hospital. In between, all patients had received intravenous diuretics. For SWE, tissue doppler imaging of the LV parasternal long axis view was acquired at a high frame rate (1048±97 fps) using a research ultrasound scanner. SWs after mitral valve closure were visualized in M-modes of the septum, colour coded for tissue acceleration (fig A). The slope of the shear waves in the M-mode represents their propagation speed. SW speeds were measured in a semi-automatic manner.

Results
Patient characteristics are described in table 1. There was a significant decrease in weight (80.6±17.6kg vs 76.7±15.9kg, p&lt;0.001) and tricuspid regurgitant velocity (3.4±0.5m/s vs 2.8±0.7m/s) before discharge, indicating a decrease in volume overload. Ejection fraction, global longitudinal strain and E/e’ did not significantly change between admittance and discharge. E/A ratio is not described, as most patients had atrial fibrillation. SW speed was significantly higher in the decompensated state upon admission than right before discharge (7.3±1.8m/s vs 5.4±1.4m/s, p&lt;0.001; Fig B). A borderline correlation was observed between the difference in shear wave speed and weight loss between admission and discharge (r=0.53; p=0.09; Fig C). Although this was not significant, likely due to the limited size of the study population, it seems that SW speed decreases with decreasing volume overload. Furthermore, a borderline correlation was seen between shear wave speed and pro-BNP at admittance (r=0.60; p=0.085; Fig D), possibly indicating that there is a link between increased shear wave speed and increased filling pressures.

Conclusion
SW speed at mitral valve closure significantly decreased with decreasing volume overload in patients with decompensated heart failure. We hypothesize, that unloading the LV causes a leftward shift on the end-diastolic pressure-volume-relation and with this a decrease in in end-diastolic myocardial stiffness. SWE might become an interesting tool to non-invasively evaluate diastolic properties of the LV.
Table 1
Figure 1
Reevaluating heart failure risk: integrating echocardiography with unconventional holter ECG parameters
Authors: Duca S , Costache Enache I I 
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Background
Chronic heart failure (CHF) constitutes a multifaceted clinical syndrome arising from structural or functional abnormalities within the myocardium. Echocardiography serves as an indispensable diagnostic modality for identifying cardiac anomalies, facilitating comprehensive evaluation of disease severity, and informing therapeutic strategies. Additionally, Holter electrocardiography (ECG) offers a robust technique for the analysis of heart rate variability (HRV), thereby elucidating the autonomic nervous system's impact on cardiac function.

Purpose
Our research undertook a comparative analysis of echocardiographic parameters and HRV metrics derived from 24-hour Holter ECG, incorporating non-traditional measures such as acceleration capacity, deceleration capacity, and the triangular index. The objective was to ascertain whether a diminished triangular index or alterations in acceleration and deceleration capacities, in contrast to conventional HRV parameters, are associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular mortality.

Methods
We enrolled 140 consecutive patients diagnosed with CHF, all of whom exhibited a left ventricular ejection fraction below 50%. Each participant underwent thorough echocardiographic examination alongside 24-hour Holter ECG monitoring.

Results
Our analysis of the correlation between the E/A ratio and HRV parameters identified significant associations with the Triangular Index (Spearman’s ρ = −0.233, p = 0.037), acceleration capacity (Spearman’s ρ = 0.226, p = 0.044), and deceleration capacity (Spearman’s ρ = −0.381, p &lt; 0.001). These HRV parameters also demonstrated statistically significant relationships with the E/E' ratio: Triangular Index (Spearman’s ρ = −0.241, p = 0.031) and deceleration capacity (Spearman’s ρ = −0.230, p = 0.033), as well as with the E/E' septal ratio. Moreover, the mitral valve deceleration time showed notable associations with the Triangular Index (Spearman’s ρ = 0.251, p = 0.025), acceleration capacity (Spearman’s ρ = −0.293, p = 0.008), and deceleration capacity (Spearman’s ρ = 0.309, p = 0.005). A positive correlation was observed between estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure and deceleration capacity. In contrast, no statistically significant relationships were found between the commonly used HRV parameters (SDNN, SDANN, and SDNN index) and echocardiographic parameters.

Conclusions
Less commonly utilized Holter ECG parameters, such as acceleration and deceleration capacity, along with the triangular index, demonstrated significant diagnostic efficacy, especially in scenarios where traditional HRV parameters remained within normal ranges. These findings underscore the importance of integrating non-traditional HRV metrics into the risk stratification processes for CHF patients. To substantiate their long-term prognostic value, further extensive multicenter studies are warranted.
Prognostic predictors in constrictive pericarditis, 19-year experience at a tertiary care hospital
Authors: Ayduk Govdeli E , Yavuz M L , Ercan C C , Bilge A K , Dursun M , Karaca Ozer P 
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Introduction
Constrictive pericarditis is a chronic inflammatory entity that may progress with thickening and calcification in the pericardial tissue, resulting in decreased pericardial elasticity and subsequent increase in ventricular filling pressures1,2. This rare treatable cause of HFpEF, is associated with various aetiologies, depending on the development level of the countries. Several algorithms have been developed for the diagnosis, whereas studies evaluating the prognostic factors are limited3–6. Our study aimed to examine the clinical, laboratory, electrocardiographic, imaging and catheterization parameters that determine the prognosis of constrictive pericarditis.

Methods
60 patients diagnosed with constrictive pericarditis based on echocardiography, computed tomography and right heart catheterization parameters were included retrospectively in the study. Clinical presentation, laboratory, and electrocardiographic findings were assessed. Volumetric measurement, tissue Doppler, mitral inflow velocity analysis, and pericardial evaluation were made via 2D echocardiography. Pericardial thickness, effusion, and calcium score were obtained via thorax CT, while right-sided pressure measurements were acquired via catheterization. The primary clinical outcome was determined as mortality, and the effect of these parameters was evaluated by Cox regression analysis.

Results
Median follow-up was 3.5 years (0-19) and mean age was 52.7 ±17.5 years. 38 of the patients (63.3%) were male, the most common aetiologies were malignancy (21.4%) and other systemic diseases (21.4%). 7 patients were lost to follow-up and 18 (31.6%) patients died during the process. When different models were evaluated with Cox regression analysis, ascites, hemoglobin and elevated proBNP values were prognostic predictors (HR 10.991 p-value 0.006, HR 0.513 p-value 0.010 and HR 3.904 p-value 0.045, respectively). ROC analysis indicated the highest AUC value for the model that included hemoglobin (AUC 0.953).

Conclusion
Constrictive pericarditis is one of the treatable causes of HFpEF. While imaging and catheterization parameters play a crucial role in the diagnosis, clinical and laboratory parameters affect the prognosis.
Whole-genome sequencing reveals the impact of lipid pathway and APOE genotype on brain amyloidosis
Authors: Patel Maulikkumar , Pottier Cyril , Fan Kang-Hsien , Cetin Arda , Johnson Matthew , Ali Muhammad , Liu Menghan , Gorijala Priyanka , Budde John , Shi Ruyu , Cohen Ann D , Becker James T , Snitz Beth E , Aizenstein Howard , Lopez Oscar L , Morris John C , Kamboh M Ilyas , Cruchaga Carlos 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Amyloid-PET imaging tracks the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) deposits in the brain. Amyloid plaques accumulation may begin 10 to 20 years before the individual experiences clinical symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s diseases (ad). Recent large-scale genome-wide association studies reported common risk factors associated with brain amyloidosis, suggesting that this endophenotype is driven by genetic variants. However, these loci pinpoint to large genomic regions and the functional variants remain to be identified. To identify new risk factors associated with brain amyloid deposition, we performed whole-genome sequencing on a large cohort of European descent individuals with amyloid PET imaging data (n = 1,888). Gene-based analysis for coding variants was performed using SKAT-O for amyloid PET as a quantitative endophenotype that identified genome-wide significant association for APOE (P = 2.45 × 10−10), and 26 new candidate genes with suggestive significance association (P &lt; 5. 0 × 10−03) including SCN7A (P = 7.31 × 10−05), SH3GL1 (P = 7.56 × 10−04), and MFSD12 (P = 8.51 × 10−04). Enrichment analysis highlighted the lipid binding pathways as associated with Aβ deposition in brain driven by PITPNM3 (P = 4.27 × 10−03), APOE (P = 2.45 × 10−10), AP2A2 (P = 1.06 × 10−03), and SH3GL1 (P = 7.56 × 10−04). Overall, our data strongly support a connection between lipid metabolism and the deposition of Aβ in the brain. Our study illuminates promising avenues for therapeutic interventions targeting lipid metabolism to address brain amyloidosis.
Microbial community dynamics in the soil-root continuum are linked with plant species turnover during secondary succession
Authors: Yan Weiming , Yuan Mengting Maggie , Wang Shi , Sorensen Patrick O , Wen Tao , Xu Yuting , Wang Honglei , Jiao Shuo , Chen Ji , Shangguan Zhouping , Deng Lei , Li Ziyan , Zhong Yangquanwei 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Grazing exclusion and land abandonment are commonly adopted to restore degraded ecosystems in semiarid and arid regions worldwide. However, the temporal variation in the soil- versus root-associated microbiome over plant species turnover during secondary succession has rarely been quantified. Using the chronosequence restored from fenced grassland and abandoned farmlands on the Loess Plateau of China, we characterized the dynamics of the soil- and root-associated microbiome of host plant with different dominance statuses during secondary succession from 0 to 40 years. Our results revealed that the root microhabitat, the host plant and their interactions were the main contributors to the bacterial community shift (R2 = 15.5%, 8.1% and 22.3%, respectively), and plant interspecies replacement had a greater effect on the shift in the root-associated microbial community than intraspecies replacement did during succession. The root-associated bacterial community of pioneer plants was particularly responsive to succession, especially the endosphere community. Endosphere microbial diversity was positively correlated with host plant coverage change, and the diversity and abundance of taxon recruitment into the endosphere of pioneer plants from the surrounding environment decreased as succession progressed. The community assembly processes also indicated that the endosphere microbiota are strongly selected in younger host plants, whereas stochastic processes dominate in aged host plants. Our study provides evidence of the unique response of the root-associated microbiome to the replacement of plant species during secondary succession, and the function of endosphere microbes should be considered when studying plant–microbe feedback.
New-Onset Facial Spasm is associated with Treatment Failure after Radiosurgery in Vestibular Schwannoma
Authors: Wang Sophie Shih-Yüng , van Eck Albertus , Naros Georgios , Horstmann Gerhard , Tatagiba Marcos 
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Background
New-onset facial spasm (NOFS) has been reported to be a post-therapeutic side-effect, when treating vestibular schwannoma (VS) with Radiosurgery (SRS) and has been linked to post-treatment pseudoprogression. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for developing NOFS after SRS-treatment, and to investigate NOFS as a clinical parameter for radiographic tumor response in VS.

Methods
This study included all consecutive patients of N=1’998 between 2004 and 2020, which were treated with SRS identified by a prospective registry. Patient and tumor characteristics were analyzed (i.e., sex, age, tumor extension and size, intracanalicular extension) were analyzed retrospectively. Statistical testing was performed with R Studio.

Results
The incidence of NOFS was 5% overall. 62% were permanent NOFS, whereas 39% recovered spontaneously between 4 and 34 months, postinterventionally. The incidence of NOFS was unrelated to tumor size – however, previous SRS increased the incidence of NOFS to 20%. In primary SRS therapy, facial spasm was associated with a higher recurrence rate compared to non-NOFS patients in the Kaplan-Meier-Analysis (p&lt;.001),.Tumor control decreased with increasing tumor size. The rate of pseudoprogression was higher in the group of transient NOFS at 39% compared to permanent NOFS 18% (p=.032).

Conclusions
The risk of NOFS was significantly higher in recurrent compared to primary treatment. The majority of NOFS was permanent. The incidence of permanent NOFS was significantly associated with the incidence of tumor recurrence overall. Temporary NOFS was associated with pseudoprogression. Future analysis comparing risk-profile of either treatment option should include facial spasm as a significant VS-related postinterventional symptom.