Category Archives: Clinical Cardiology

For patients with proximal atherosclerotic lesions, machine learning-based computed tomography (CT) angiography-derived fractional flow reserve (FFR) can diagnose functional ischemia with myocardial bridging and atherosclerotic disease, according to a study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology. Researchers aimed to assess the diagnostic ability of machine learning-based CT angiography-derived FFR to detect functional ischemia in myocardial bridging, and then compare those results with the results of the invasive FFR procedure in patients with left anterior descending myocardial bridging. Patients underwent a coronary CT angiography, an invasive coronary angiography with FFR measurements, and a clinical exam Continue reading →

Robert Anderson Uncovering and abolishing focal ventricular tachycardia (VT) may further improve outcomes of catheter ablation in the treatment of structural heart disease, a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC): Clinical Electrophysiology concludes. Robert Anderson (Westmead Hospital, Sydney and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia) who lead the study, notes that focal ventricular tachycardias are common in patients with structural heart disease (SHD) and often coexist with re-entrant forms of ventricular tachycardia. Continue reading →

San Antonio Regional Hospital has been named one of the nations 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by IBM Watson Health. The study spotlights the top performing cardiovascular hospitals in the U.S., based on a balanced scorecard of available clinical and operational metrics and data. This years study included 989 US hospitals with cardiovascular service lines Continue reading →

GE Healthcare has partnered with Formlabs to enable clinicians to additively manufacture patient-specific anatomical models and enhance the training and delivery of surgical operations. The 3D printed models will be used to facilitate hands-on and visual communication between radiologists, surgeons, trainees and patients. As part of the collaboration, radiologists specialising in cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics and neurology will have access to a bundle of software, hardware and material products from both GE Healthcare and Formlabs Continue reading →

Both atrial fibrillation (AF) and dementia are highly prevalent pathologies, with reported rates of approximately 33.5 million and 40 million worldwide.1,2 Experts anticipate that the prevalence of both conditions will continue to increase along with the growing elderly population, and accumulating research suggests that AF may increase the risk for cognitive decline and dementia.2,3 There are many studies showing an increased rate of all types of dementia in patients with [AF], said Hugh Calkins, MD, FHRS, FACC, FAHA, FESC, the Catherine Ellen Poindexter Professor of Cardiology and director of the electrophysiology laboratory and arrhythmia service at Johns Hopkins University. New data [have] also shown that treatment of AF lowers the risk of cognitive dysfunction, he told Neurology Advisor Continue reading →

GE HealthcareandFormlabs, have announced a collaboration aimed to clinicians to make 3D printed, patient-specific models from imaging data at a lower cost. The anatomical models can allow the combination of hands-on and visual communication and coordination amongst radiologists, surgeons, trainees, and patients around the world. Continue reading →

Research News By ELLEN GOLDBAUM Published December 4, 2019 All babies born to mothers infected with HIV are exposed to the virus in utero, but not all of them become infected with it. Yet, all pregnant women in the U.S. with HIV receive antiretroviral therapy (ART), so both infected and uninfected babies exposed to HIV in utero are exposed to these powerful drugs. Continue reading →

For patients with acute myocarditis, follow-up cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging at 6 months after the original CMR provides an evolution of cardiac involvement to evaluate prognosis, according to study results published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Continue reading →

A new study observed a correlation between pulmonary hypertension (pHTN) and increased mortality after transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) using the MitraClip. Pulmonary hypertension (pHTN) is associated with increased risk of mortality after mitral valve surgery for mitral regurgitation. However, its association with clinical outcomes in patients undergoing transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) with a commercially available system (MitraClip) is unknown, stated the study authors in describing why they undertook this study, which was published in JAMA Cardiology. Continue reading →

God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there, I believe he'll be there.~The Reverend Billy Graham Its peculiar that the origin of the word dog is essentially unknown. It is true that theories abound such as that the term was derived from the Old Germanic Word docga stemming from the word dukkon meaning power and strength Continue reading →