International journal of cardiology
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Three-dimensional contrast-enhanced MR pulmonary angiography (MRPA) is a suitable option for pulmonary embolism (PE) detection. However, there have been few reports on the diagnostic accuracy of MRPA for PE detection in a 3-T MR system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of MRPA in a 3-T MR system to detect acute PE with multidetector CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) as reference standard. ⋯ Three-dimensional contrast-enhanced MRPA with a 3-T MR system is a suitable alternative modality to CTPA to detect PE on a per-patient basis based on this small cohort study.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
A comparison of clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with first-diagnosed atrial fibrillation: the Belgrade Atrial Fibrillation Study.
To investigate baseline characteristics and long-term prognosis of carefully characterized asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in a 'real-world' cohort of first-diagnosed non-valvular AF over a 10-year follow-up period. ⋯ In a 'real-world' setting, patients with asymptomatic presentation of their first-diagnosed AF could have different risk profile and long-term outcomes compared to those with symptomatic AF. Whether more intensive monitoring and comprehensive AF management including AF ablation at early stage following the incident episode of AF and increased quality of oral anticoagulation could alter the long-term prognosis of these patients requires further investigation.
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The arterial switch operation (ASO) is currently the treatment of choice for infants with transposition of the great arteries (TGA). Little is known, however, about the alteration of anatomic left ventricular (LV) torsional mechanics after the operation. This study sought to evaluate LV torsion in patients of transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum (TGA/IVS) using speckle tracking echocardiography. ⋯ Two dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography may sensitively detect impaired LV torsional mechanics in patients with TGA/IVS early after ASO, and the impairment of LV relaxation leads to increased LV filling pressure which is consistent with higher E/e'. However, all patients recovered well thereafter and the overall midterm outcome of ASO is satisfactory.
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Functional iron deficiency and diastolic function in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
Functional iron deficiency (FID) is an independent risk factor for poor outcome in advanced heart failure with reduced EF, but its role in heart failure with preserved EF (HFPEF) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the impact of FID on cardiac performance determined by pressure-volume loop analysis in HFPEF. ⋯ In non-anemic HFPEF patients, cardiac dysfunction and impaired exercise capacity occur independently of FID.