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Background: Obese patients have more coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors that may affect myocardial function. We aimed to assess the ability of echocardiography‐derived conventional parameters, left atrial strain, and global longitudinal strain to detect early diastolic and systolic dysfunction in obese individuals with almost no CAD risk factors. Method: We studied 100 participants with structurally normal hearts, ejection fractions above 50%, almost normal coronary arteries in coronary angiogram (syndrome X), and no cardiovascular risk factor except dyslipidemia. Participants were classified as normal‐weight (BMI < 25.0 kg/m2, n = 28) and high‐weight (BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2, n = 72). Conventional echocardiographic parameters and two‐dimensional speckle tracking (2DSTE) were used to measure peak LA strain and global longitudinal strain to evaluate diastolic and systolic function, respectively. Result: There was no significant difference in the standard and conventional echocardiographic parameters between the two groups. 2DSTE echocardiographic parameters of the longitudinal deformation of the LV myocardium were not significantly different within the two groups. However, there were significant differences between the subjects with normal‐weight and high‐weight in terms of LA strain (34.51 ± 8.98% vs. 39.06 ± 8.62%, p =.021). The normal‐weight group had lower LA strain, in compression with the high‐weight group. All echocardiographic parameters were in the normal range. Conclusion: In the present study we demonstrated that global longitudinal subendocardial deformations, for the evaluation of systolic function, and conventional echocardiographic parameters, for the evaluation of diastolic function, were not significantly different between normal‐ and high‐weight groups. Although LA strain was higher among overweight patients, it was not above the normal range of diastolic dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The clinical manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) overlap with those of other disorders, especially cardiovascular disease.Case Presentation: We herein describe a 58-year-old woman who presented with syncopal episodes and dyspnea on exertion with a left atrial (LA) mass, scheduled for surgical removal and mitral valve replacement. Nearly 3 months later, the patient developed dyspnea, fever, and a sore throat, resulting in hospital admission with suspected COVID-19. During the diagnostic evaluation, a larger LA mass was detected. The mass seemed to be a COVID-19-induced organized thrombus with prosthetic mitral valve malfunction. Resection was, therefore, planned. An immunohistochemistry study revealed a liposarcoma.Conclusions: The unusual early recurrence of liposarcomas and the misdiagnosis with COVID-19-induced thrombosis are the hallmark of the present case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the early diagnosis of tumoral diseases is more possible and accurate with multiple diagnostic imaging modalities such as chest X-ray, echocardiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, especially for cardiac tumors which are usually asymptomatic, even in large sizes. In cardiac masses, the patients' presentations are nonspecific and dependent on the tumor size and site as well as its compressive effect on the adjacent structures. On the other hand, the first and last signs could be sudden cardiac death. However, cardiac masses are either benign or malignant and metastatic in their malignant type, and their definite diagnosis is only possible by surgical tumor resection and tissue biopsy. In this paper, we describe an old patient with severe pericardial effusion and an unusual intrapericardial tumor in transthoracic echocardiography, representing a rare case of a giant ectopic thymoma after surgical resection and pathologic assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several competing geometric and hemodynamic factors are suggested as contributing mechanisms for functional mitral regurgitation (MR) in heart failure patients. We aimed to study the relationships between the severity of MR and the QRS duration and dyssynchrony markers in patients with ischemic or dilated cardiomyopathy. Methods: We prospectively evaluated 251 heart failure patients with indications for echocardiographic evaluation of possible cardiac resynchronization therapy. All the patients were subjected to transthoracic echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging to evaluate the left ventricular (LV) synchronicity. The patients were divided into two groups according to the severity o f MR: < mild MR and > moderate MR. The effects of different dyssynchrony indices were adjusted for global and regional left ventricular remodeling parameters. Results: From the 251 patients (74.5% male, mean age = 53.38 ± 16.68 years), 130 had < mild MR and 121 had > moderate MR. There were no differences between the groups regarding the mean age, frequency of sex, and etiology of cardiomyopathy. The LV systolic and diastolic dimensions were greater in the patients with > moderate MR (all p values < 0.001). Among the different echocardiographic factors, the QRS duration (150.75 ± 34.66 vs. 126.77 ± 29.044 ms; p value = 0.050) and interventricular mechanical delay (41.60 ± 29.50 vs. 35.00 ms ± 22.01; p value = 0.045) were significantly longer in the patients with < mild MR in the univariate analysis. After adjusting the effect of these parameters on the severity of MR for the regional and global LV remodeling parameters, no significant impact of the QRS duration and dyssynchrony indices was observed. Conclusion: Our results showed that the degree of functional MR was not associated with the QRS duration and inter- and intraventricular dyssynchrony in our patients with cardiomyopathy. No association was found between the severity of MR and the ischemic or dilated etiology for cardiomyopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To study whether there is any relation between left atrial ( LA) size or function and the level of left ventricular dyssynchrony ( LV) in patients with heart failure. Method Fifty-two patients (male 34, mean age = 65.77 ± 8.69 years) with ejection fraction (EF) <35%, who were candidates for cardiac resynchronization therapy ( CRT), underwent conventional transthoracic echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging ( TDI). Intra-ventricular dyssynchrony, inter-ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony ( IVMD), and related time intervals were measured. The LA size and function were evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography and deformation imaging using LA lateral wall strain ( ST) and strain rate ( SR), and the septal wall ST. Results The LA volume showed severe dilation in 41 (78.8%) patients. 44 (84.6%) cases had intra-ventricular dyssynchrony and 33 (63.5%) had IVMD. In univariable analysis, the LA lateral wall ST and SR as well as the LA septal wall ST had significant but poor correlation with IVMD. There were also poor to moderate correlation between these parameters and the LV end diastolic diameter and mitral annulus tissue velocity at early and late diastole. However, after adjustment for all the related factors, IVMD remained a significant independent correlate for the LA lateral wall ST and SR. This correlation for the LA septal wall ST was not statistically significant. Conclusion IVMD was a significant independent correlate for the LA lateral wall ST and SR. This correlation for the LA septal wall ST was nonsignificant. Future studies are needed to examine whether the correction of inter-ventricular dyssynchrony by CRT in patients with concomitant LA dysfunction can have an independent role in the improvement of the LA function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Given the common concomitance of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) with significant mitral stenosis, we aimed at exploring the relation between TR severity and pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) in patients who underwent mitral balloon valvotomy (MBV). Methods: We analyzed the echocardiography data of 133 consecutive patients (82.0% female, mean age 44.68 ± 12.56 years) with different degrees of TR severity that underwent MBV between April 2006 and March 2008. The pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PAPs) > 35 mmHg was considered as PAH. Results: Before MBV, 36.20% of the patients had moderate to severe TR, 92.5% PAH, and 18.0% right ventricular (RV) dilation (RV dimension ⩾ 33 mm). After MBV, TR severity improved in 41.4%, worsened in 8.3%, and did not change in 50.4%. Before and after MBV, PAPs was significantly correlated with TR severity, and the mean PAPs change in patients with improved TR was significantly more than that of patients without TR improvement (p value = 0.042). Tricuspid regurgitation severity and mean PAPs (from 52.83 ± 18.82 to 35.89 ± 9.39 mmHg) decreased significantly after MBV (both p values < 0.001); this reduction was significantly correlated to the amount of PAPs decrease. A cut-off point of ⩾ 19 mmHg reduction in PAPs had a specificity of 71.79% and sensitivity of 52.73% to show TR severity improvement (by Receiver-Operative- Characteristics analysis). The mean of RV dimension decreased from 28.94 ± 5.43 to 27.95 ± 4.67 mm (p value < 0.001). In contrast to patients with RV dilation, TR reduced significantly in patients without RV dilation (p value < 0.001). Conclusion: Improvement in TR severity was directly correlated with the amount of PAPs reduction after MBV. More studies are needed to better define a cut-off value for PAPs reduction related to TR severity improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Current data evaluating outcomes of valve replacement surgery in patients with overweight/obesity is contradictory. There is a scarce study comparing outcomes of valve surgery considering the type of valve involved in the procedure. We followed outcomes in patients with overweight and obesity after valve replacement surgery with or without coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and also patients with aortic valve replacement (AVR) and mitral valve replacement (MVR), separately to compare their mid‐term prognosis in each group. Consecutive patients who had undergone cardiac valve surgery with or without CABG in Tehran Heart Center were enrolled. We enrolled 3158 patients. Median survival was 125.71 ± 82.20 weeks in patients with overweight/obesity. We found a significantly higher LVDd, LVDs and RVDd in patients with CABG (51.85 ± 7.31, 36.80 ± 8.81 and 30.04 ± 3.58, respectively) compared to the valve group (50.10 ± 6.35 mm, 35.08 ± 7.29 mm and 29.76 ± 4.07 mm, respectively). All‐cause mortality is significantly higher in patients with AVR (5.7%) than those with MVR (3.3%). Patients with CABG are at higher risk of myocardial infarction (MI) compared to the ones without CABG (0.8% vs. 0.1%). No significant interaction was observed between the type of valve surgery (AVR/MVR) or valve surgery combinations (valve/valve + CABG) (p‐values = .81 vs. .97, respectively). Post‐operative outcomes in patients with overweight/obesity depend on several factors such as type of valve involved and presence of CABG. Risk management can lower the rate of mortality and morbidity in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Patients with β‐thalassemia major depend on lifelong transfusion, resulting in tissue iron overload. This longitudinal retrospective observational study aims to assess myocardial and liver iron overload using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and investigate the lag between myocardial and liver iron unloading in β‐thalassemia patients undergoing chelation therapy. Methods. Beta‐thalassemia major patients with at least two MRI studies between 2016 and 2020 were enrolled. Myocardial and liver iron overload were defined as T2∗ less than 20 and 2.1, respectively. Outcomes included mortality, myocardial and liver T2∗ changes, and systolic dysfunction assessed by cardiac MRI. Results. Fifty‐five patients with a mean age of 24.62 ± 7.94 years, a mean follow‐up duration of 24.3 ± 12.9 months, and a mean ferritin level of 1475.75 ± 771.12 ng/mL were enrolled. All of the abovementioned patients only took deferoxamine as the iron‐chelating medication. Mortality occurred in three patients (5.5%) during follow‐up. Liver T2∗ significantly increased (p value <0.05), while myocardial T2∗ showed a nonsignificant increase. Iron unloading of the myocardium was not significantly different from that of the liver and did not result in a significant lag (56% vs. 44%; p value = 0.419). Baseline myocardial T2∗ correlated with extramedullary hematopoiesis, weekly number of deferoxamine injections (p value <0.01), timing between the transfusions, and serum ferritin (p value <0.05). Conclusion. Liver T2∗ reduced during deferoxamine chelation therapy, while myocardial T2∗ remained unchanged. No significant lag was observed between myocardial and liver iron unloading. Further studies are required to elucidate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Balloon sizing (BS) has been used for device size selection in percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) closure. Due to its limitations, alternative imaging techniques like three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D‐TEE) are valuable for guiding ASD device size selection during ASD closure procedures. The purpose of this study was to compare ASD sizing using measurements obtained from 3D–TEE to those utilizing the standard balloon sizing method. Methods: We identified 53 patients with single secundum type ASD without PFO who underwent percutaneous closure at the Tehran Heart Center between 2019 and 2022. Balloon sizing was performed in all patients with the stop‐flow technique, and the choice of device size was determined based on the sizing derived from BS. 3D‐TEE imaging was performed before the intervention, and the ASD shape and quality of ASD rims were assessed. Results: Among the 53 patients who underwent single ASD device closure, multiple 3D TEE measurements significantly correlated with balloon sizing results. This included defect area, perimeter, and diameter obtained from 3D‐TEE images multi‐planar reconstruction. ASD perimeter detected by 3D TEE had the best correlation with BS results. When divided by the shape of ASD, there was no significant difference between our 3D‐images data and BS in round or oval‐shaped ASDs. Conclusion: The 3D‐TEE study is reliable for assessing ASD configurational characteristics in percutaneous device closure candidates. 3D‐TEE has the potential to accurately determine the appropriate device size and reduce complications, costs, and procedural duration. Further research is needed to validate these findings and establish the role of 3D‐TEE measurements in guiding the best treatment decisions for ASD closure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the current study, we aimed to report the short- and mid-term outcomes of patients undergoing valve-sparing aortic root reimplantation (VSARR) and our center’s experience with the procedure. Methods: Forty patients with aortic root aneurysms underwent VSARR at our center from 2010 until 2022. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of these patients and extracted the relevant data. After carefully examining the aortic valve, the surgeon decided to perform Bentall or David’s procedure during the operation. Results: The study population comprised 31 (77.5%) men and nine (22.5%) women, with a mean age of 55.35 ± 15.40. One patient developed hemodynamic instability post-surgery in the hospital and died from multi-organ failure. Another patient had severe AI in the intraoperative echocardiography, and aortic valve replacement with a prosthetic graft was performed during the same operation. In pre-operation echocardiography, 25 (62.5%) patients had severe, nine (22.5%) had moderate, and six (15%) had mild AI. In the in-hospital post-operation follow-up echo, AI was improved, and no patients had severe AI (P < 0.001). Only eight patients had moderate AI in post-one-year follow-up echo exams, while the rest had mild AI. Conclusion: David’s procedure showed excellent mid-term results in our center, with only one in-hospital mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A response by A. Zoroufian, M. Sahebjam and B. Eslami to a letter to the editor about their article "Tricuspid Regurgitation Improvement in Relation to the Amount of Pulmonary Artery Pressure Reduction" in previous issue is presented.

Background: Controlling cholesterol levels is one of the primary goals of preventing atherosclerotic plaque progression in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. This study aimed to investigate the impact of serum cholesterol profile at multiple time points following isolated CABG surgery on long-term patient outcomes. Method: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on the admission and follow-up data of isolated CABG patients from the Tehran Heart Center registry between 2009 and 2016. The association of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and their ratio as an atherogenic index with major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and all-cause mortality were evaluated using time-varying survival analysis methods. Result: A total of 18657 patients were included in this analysis. After adjusting for known confounding factors, no significant difference in all-cause mortality and MACCE was observed at different LDL levels. The incidence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients with LDL > 100 mg/dl and LDL < 50 mg/dl was significantly higher than in the control group (P-value = 0.004 and 0.04, respectively). The incidence of cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) at LDL > 100 mg/dl was also significantly higher compared to the control group (P -value = 0.033). Lower HDL levels were significantly associated with a higher MACCE (P -value < 0.001), all-cause mortality (P -value < 0.001), ACS (P -value = 0.00), and CVA (P -value = 0.014). The atherogenic index was also directly related to MACCE and all its components (all P-values < 0.001). Conclusion: LDL/HDL ratio is suggested as a better marker for secondary prevention goals compared to LDL alone in patients undergoing CABG surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Bioprosthetic mitral valves (MV) have limited durability. Dysfunction and degeneration of these valves can lead to reoperation and progressive heart failure. We investigated the frequency and predictors of MV bioprosthesis early degeneration within three years following MV replacement surgery. Methods. In this retrospective cohort study, we retrieved the data of consecutive patients who underwent bioprosthetic MV replacement through midsternotomy at Tehran Heart Center between 2013 and 2019. Based on the reviewed parameters of the bioprosthetic MV in the follow-up echocardiography, the patients were divided into two groups to compare the variables respecting early degeneration. Finally, the predictors of early degeneration were recognized using the Cox regression hazards model. Results. We reviewed and analyzed data of 177 patients from our hospital database. The mean age of the patients was 63.9 ± 11.7 years and 100 (56.5%) were women. 39 (22.0%) patients had experienced early degeneration and two (1.1% of the total) had died during the follow-up period. Patients in the degeneration group tended to have a history of stroke and renal failure, although not statistically significant. The sole independent predictor of early degeneration of bioprosthetic MV was a high MV mean gradient in the first postoperative echocardiography study (HR = 11.01, 95% CI: 4.80–25.24; P < 0.001). Conclusion. About 22.0% of our patients had echocardiographic criteria for early degeneration, and according to our results, increased MV gradients (without considering the reason) in the first postoperative echocardiography were the sole independent predictor for it. Careful valve selection can be essential in reducing early degeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Right heart cement embolization is a rare but potentially life‐threatening complication of vertebroplasty surgeries. Transthoracic echocardiography is the first‐line imaging modality for detecting cement particles in cardiac chambers. Anticoagulation treatments or surgical interventions are necessary, depending on the patient's condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Conventional Doppler measurements, including mitral inflow and pulmonary venous flow, are used to estimate left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP). However, these parameters have limitations in predicting LVEDP among patients with mitral regurgitation. This study sought to establish whether the correlation between measurements derived from tissue Doppler echocardiography and LVEDP remains valid in the setting of severe mitral regurgitation. Methods: Thirty patients (mean age: 57.37 ± 13.29 years) with severe mitral regurgitation and a mean left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) of 46.0 ± 14.95 were enrolled; 16 (53.4%) patients were defined to have EF < 50% and 14 (46.6%) patients had EF ⩾ 50%. Doppler signals from the mitral inflow, pulmonary venous flow, and Doppler tissue imaging indices were obtained, and LVEDP was measured invasively through cardiac catheterization. Results: The majority of the standard Doppler and Doppler tissue imaging indices were not significantly correlated with LVEDP in the univariate analysis. In the multiple linear regression, however, early (E) transmitral velocity to annular E' (E/E') ratio (β = 1.09, p value < 0.01), E wave velocity to propagation velocity (E/Vp) ratio (β = 7.87, p value < 0.01), and isovolumic relaxation time (β = 0.21, p value = 0.01) were shown as independent predictors of LVEDP (R2 = 91.7%). Conclusion: The ratio of E/Vp and E/E' ratio and also the isovolumic relaxation time could be applied properly to estimate LVEDP in mitral regurgitation patients even in the setting of severe mitral regurgitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect secundum (ASD-II) has become an alternative method for surgery. We sought to compare the two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) method for measuring atrial septal defect with balloon occlusive diameter (BOD) in transcatheter ASD-II closure. Methods: A total of 39 patients (71.1% female, mean age: 35.31 ± 15.37 years) who underwent successful transcatheter closure of ASD-II between November 2005 and July 2008 were enrolled in this study. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and TEE were performed to select suitable cases for device closure and measure the defect size before the procedure, and BOD measurement was performed during catheterization via TEE. The final size of the selected device was usually either equal to or 1 - 2 mm larger than the BOD of the defect. Results: The mean defect size obtained by TEE and BOD was 18.50 ± 5.08 mm and 22.86 ± 4.76 mm, respectively. The mean difference between the values of ASD size obtained by TEE and BOD was 4.36 ± 2.93 mm. In comparison with BOD, TEE underestimated the defect size in 94.9%, but TEE value being equal to BOD was observed in 5.1%. There was a good linear correlation between the two measurements: BOD = 0.773 × ASD size by TEE+8.562; r2 = 67.9.1%. A negative correlation was found between TEE sizing and the difference between BOD and TEE values (r = -0.394, p value = 0.013). Conclusion: In this study, BOD was larger than ASD size obtained by two-dimensional TEE. However, TEE maximal defect sizing correlates with BOD and may provide credible information in device size selection for transcatheter ASD closure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Moderate non-organic tricuspid regurgitation (TR) concomitant with coronary artery disease is not uncommon. Whether or not TR improves after pure coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), however, is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of isolated CABG on moderate non-organic TR. Methods: This study recruited 50 patients (40% female, mean age: 65.38±8.01 years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): 45.74±13.05%) with moderate non-organic TR who underwent isolated CABG. TR severity before and after CABG was compared. Pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PAPs)>30mmHg and LVEF<50% were considered elevated PAPs (EPAPs) and LV systolic dysfunction, respectively. Presence of Q-wave in leads II, III, and aVF was considered inferior myocardial infarction (inf. MI). Results: Pre-operatively, 81.5% of the patients had EPAPs, 16% right ventricle (RV) dilation, and 50% left ventricle (LV) and 16% RV systolic dysfunction. TR severity improved in 64% after CABG, whereas it remained unchanged or even worsened in others (P value<0.001). Patients with inf. MI showed no improvement in TR, while patients without inf. MI had significant TR regression after CABG (P value=0.050). Improvement of TR severity after CABG was not related to pre-operative RV size and function, LV systolic function, or PAPs reduction. Conclusion: Although TR severity decreased remarkably after isolated CABG, a considerable number of the patients had no TR regression. In addition, only absence of inf. MI was significantly correlated to TR improvement after CABG. Further prospective studies with long-term follow-up are needed to determine the other factors predicting TR regression after isolated CABG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Given the dearth of data in the existing literature on the size and morphologic variability of secundum-type atrial-septal defect (ASD-II) in adult patients, we aimed to address this issue in a series of consecutive adult patients evaluated by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Methods: A total of 50 patients (68.0% female) with isolated ASD-II underwent TEE for the evaluation of the defect. The morphological characteristics of the defect were evaluated, and the largest defect size was measured. The ASD rim was divided into 6 sectors: the superior-anterior, superior-posterior, superior, inferior-anterior, inferior-posterior, and inferior. The minimal length of the defect rims was determined. Results: Mean age at the time of evaluation was 33.62±14.48 years. Mean defect diameter in the all the study patients was 20.80±8.17 mm. Thirteen morphological variations were detected. Deficiency of one rim was detected in 14 (28%) patients, two in 16 (32%), three in 2 (4%), and four in 2 (4%). Deficiency of the superior anterior rim was found in 24% of the patients as the most frequent morphology. There was a significant correlation between the defect size and number of deficient rims (γ=0.558, P value<0.001). Forty-eight (96%) patients emerged for defect closure: 22 (46.2%) suitable for percutaneous closure and 26 (53.8%) for surgical closure. Two patients with small defects were recommended for medical treatment and follow-up. Conclusion: ASD-II is larger and more morphologically variable in adults than in children. Based on the findings of the present and previous studies and given the advantages of percutaneous treatment, it is advisable to make a decision on ASD-II closure as soon as possible before it outgrows the transcatheter closure suitability criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]