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Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (MR) is a multiparametric, non-ionizing, non-invasive imaging technique, which represents the imaging gold standard to study cardiac anatomy, function and tissue characterization. Faced with a wide range of clinical application, in this review we aim to provide a comprehensive guide for clinicians about MR safety, contraindications and image quality. Starting from the physical interactions of the static magnetic fields, gradients and radiofrequencies with the human body, we will describe the most common metal and electronic devices which are allowed (MR-safe), allowed under limited conditions (MR-conditional) or contraindicated (MR-unsafe). Moreover, some conditions potentially affecting image quality and patient comfort will be mentioned, including arrhythmias, claustrophobia, and poor breath-hold capacity. Finally, we will discuss the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of current gadolinium-based contrast agents, their contraindications and their potential acute and chronic adverse effects, as well as the safety issue concerning the use of vasodilating/inotropic agents in stress cardiac MR., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors report no relationships that could be construed as a conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Right ventricular (RV) myocarditis (MY) is unrecognized, and its prevalence is unknown. We evaluated the prevalence of RV involvement in acute MY and its association with cardiac events (cardiac death, cardiac arrest, ventricular assist device, transplantation, and appropriate ICD intervention)., Methods: We enrolled 151 patients who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance for clinical suspicion of acute MY. The CMR protocol included T2-STIR images for edema detection, post-contrast cine-SSFP for hyperemia detection and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) images., Results: Signs of RV MY were found in 27 patients (17.8%): RV edema at T2-STIR in all of these 27 patients; RV LGE was detected in 11 patients (7.3%). The median RV myocardial segment involved was 2 (1-3). In 13 patients, RV edema was in direct continuity with LV edema of septum and inferior wall or with anterior septum and anterior wall. In 2 patients RV myocarditis was found without any signs of LV involvement. Patients with RV MY had higher RV end-diastolic volume index (p = 0.04) and RV mass index (p = 0.03), and lower RV ejection fraction (p < 0.001) than others. At Kaplan-Meier survival curve patients with RV MY had more cardiac events than those without RV involvement (p = 0.015). RV involvement, anteroseptal LGE and RV LGE were associated with cardiac events., Conclusion: RV involvement in acute MY is more frequent than previously hypothesized. RV MY was associated with cardiac events., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors (DPP4-I) and Sodium-Glucose Linked coTransporter-2 Inhibitors (SGLT2-I) improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). However, only few studies were designed to assess the efficacy and safety of these drugs on cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effects of DPP4-Is and SGLT2-Is on CV events and mortality by meta-analysis., Methods: Randomized trials enrolling more than 200 patients, comparing DPP-4-Is or SGLT2-Is versus placebo or active treatments in patients with DM, and reporting at least one event among all-cause and CV mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction (MI) and new onset of heart failure (HF), were included., Results: 157 randomized trials (114 on DPP4-Is and 43 on SGLT2-Is) enrolling 140,470 patients (107,100 in DPP4-I and 33,370 in SGLT2-I studies) were included in the analysis. Compared to control, treatment with DPP4-Is did not affect all-cause (RR: 1.010; 95% CI: 0.935-1.091) and CV (RR: 0.975; CI: 0.887-1.073) mortality as well as risk of MI (RR: 0.915; CI: 0.835-1.002), stroke (RR: 0.933; CI: 0.820-1.062) and HF (RR: 1.083; CI: 0.973-1.205). Treatment with SGLT2-Is significantly reduced the risk of all-cause death by 28% (RR: 0.718; CI: 0.613-0.840), CV death by 33% (RR: 0.668; CI: 0.544-0.821), MI by 20% (RR: 0.803; CI: 0.668-0.965) and HF by 35% (RR: 0.652; CI: 0.517-0.823) without effect on stroke (RR: 1.158; CI: 0.912-1.469)., Conclusions: DPP4-Is show a safe CV profile as they do not affect mortality and CV events, including HF, in patients with type 2 DM. SGLT2-Is are associated with improved CV outcome and survival in DM patients., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Isolated ventricular non-compaction (IVNC) is frequently, but not invariably, associated with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. Factors impacting on regional and global LV function are unknown. The aim of the study was to apply magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate the impact of extent and severity of ventricular non-compaction on LV systolic function in patients with IVNC., Methods: Sixteen adult patients with IVNC as defined by previously validated MRI criteria [ratio between end-diastolic thickness of non-compacted and compacted myocardium (NC/C ratio)> 2.3 in ≥ 1 LV segment] were enrolled. Short-axis cine images were employed for analysis. Applying a 16-segment LV model, regional systolic performance was assessed qualitatively (wall motion score, WMS; 1 = normal, 2 = mild hypokinesia, 3 = moderate-to-severe hypokinesia, and 4 = a/dyskinesia) as well as quantitatively [fractional wall thickening, FWT (%)=100 × (end-diastolic wall thickness-end-systolic wall thickness)/end-diastolic wall thickness)]., Results: Mean LV ejection fraction was 43.8 ± 15.4% (range, 17-68%). Regional disease severity, as expressed by the NC/C ratio, revealed a significant correlation with WMS (r=0.26; p=0.018) and FWT (r=-0.30; p=0.006). The total number of non-compacted segments/patient (NoNC) as an index of disease extent was a significant independent correlate of LV ejection fraction by multivariate regression analysis (β=-5.24; p=0.038) and an excellent predictor of global LV dysfunction (ROC analysis, AUC=0.98; p<0.0001)., Conclusions: In patients with IVNC, disease severity correlates with the degree of LV dysfunction at a regional level. The extent of myocardial non-compaction is an independent predictor of global LV dysfunction., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)