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Abstract Background Myocardial feature-tracking (FT) strain from cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has incremental prognostic value beyond traditional imaging biomarkers. Clinical use is limited by the absence of population-specific healthy reference ranges. This study provides age-, sex-, and ethnicity-specific reference ranges for CMR-derived FT strain from the Healthy Hearts Consortium (HHC). Methods The HHC is an international collaboration comprising CMR scans from 9,088 verified healthy adults across six centres, covering the entire adult age spectrum and with diverse ethnic background. Standardised CMR acquisition protocols were used. Image analysis was performed by two experienced readers following pre-specified standard operating procedures and using two commercially available software platforms (cvi42®, Circle Cardiovascular Imaging Inc.; suiteHEART®, Neosoft LLC). The following metrics were extracted: i) global FT strain metrics from both ventricles (longitudinal, circumferential, and radial) and both atria (longitudinal); ii) strain rate; iii) Mitral/Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE, TAPSE); iv) rapid strain (long-axis, junctional strain) from the left ventricle and both atria. Quality control included visual inspection of all images and the removal of biologically non-sensical values and extreme statistical outliers. Reference ranges were calculated by age group (deciles: 20-80 years), sex (male/female), and ethnicity (White, Black, Chinese, South Asian, Mixed/Other) using the 95% prediction interval method. Technical variations due to scanner vendor, software platform, and field strength (1.5T vs. 3.0T), were analysed. Results The study included 4,452 men (49%) and 4,636 women (51%). Ages ranged from 18 to 83 (mean 61±13) years. The sample included diverse ethnic backgrounds [White (81.7%), South Asian (5.6%), Mixed/Other (5.3%), Black (3.7%), and Chinese (3.7%)]. Women demonstrated significantly higher absolute strain values than men across. Absolute myocardial strain values were higher in younger age groups and lower in older age groups, most notably in left global circumferential and longitudinal strain. Ethnic differences in strain were most pronounced between White and Black as well as between White and Chinese individuals regarding left and right ventricular strain values, while left and right atrial strain values as well as rapid strain values, were similar across ethnic groups. Conclusion This study provides comprehensive, population-specific reference ranges for FT-CMR-derived myocardial strain, addressing a clinical knowledge gap. These findings inform clinical interpretation, improving diagnostic accuracy and risk stratification in different populations. This work represents a significant step towards a broader clinical implementation of myocardial strain analysis in routine cardiovascular care, ensuring more accurate classification of findings across varying demographic groups.

Abstract Background Chronotropic incompetence (CI) is a biomarker of cardiac autonomic dysfunction. Aim To assess the risk stratification value of CI during physical or pharmacological stress echocardiography in patients with chronic coronary syndromes. Methods In a prospective, multicenter, international, observational study design, we enrolled 13,445 patients with known or suspected chronic coronary syndromes who underwent stress echo in 19 sites from 10 countries using either exercise (n=2,594), dobutamine (n=2,440), or dipyridamole (n=8,411). Heart rate was automatically measured from the 1-lead ECG in the echo monitor. We considered CI as failure to reach 85% of the maximal predicted (220-age) heart rate for exercise and dobutamine, and heart rate reserve (peak/rest heart rate) <1.22 (<1.17 in permanent atrial fibrillation) for dipyridamole. All-cause death was the outcome measure. Results Heart rate reserve was available in all patients; there was no extra imaging or analysis time, and no intra- and inter-observer variability. CI was observed in 5,045 patients (38%); abnormal regional wall motion abnormality in 1,648 (13%). Over a median follow-up time of 3.5 years, there were 2,426 (18%) deaths. The 10-year mortality was 39% in patients with and 21% in patients without CI (p<0.0001). CI was associated with a significant (p<0.0001) increase in 10-year mortality in all age groups ranging from <54 years to >75 years. In addition, it was associated with increased mortality (p<0.0001) irrespective of β-blocker use (Figure). Cox multivariable analysis revealed that CI was a significant predictor of mortality (HR 1.60, 95% confidence interval 1.47-1.74; p<0.0001) together with age, male sex, diabetes mellitus, ejection fraction, and resting heart rate. Conclusion In patients with chronic coronary syndromes, CI during physical or pharmacological stress is a simple, inexpensive, quantitative, and objective predictor of survival.

Abstract Background Loeys-Dietz Syndrome (LDS) is a rare connective tissue disorder characterized by mutations indifferent genes including TGFRB2, TGFBR1, TGFB2, TGFB3, and SMAD3, which significantly increase the risk of vascular abnormalities, including aneurysms and dissections. These vascular events can involve various arterial territories, although the thoracic aorta is of most concern. The current literature is limited on characterizing the aortic and extra-aortic vascular manifestation on larger cohorts of patients. Purpose This study aims at analyzing the rates of aneurysms and dissections across different vascular territories inpatients with LDS. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of individuals diagnosed with LDS at our institution. Medical records were reviewed for imaging findings, including CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds, to identify the presence of aneurysms and dissections. Vascular territories involved included the aortic arch (ascending, and descending aorta), coronary, cerebral, carotid, vertebral, renal, splanchnic, and peripheral arteries. Results A total of 94 patients with LDS were included. 76 patients (81%) had an ascending aortic aneurysm, and 21 patients (22.5%) had an abdominal aortic aneurysm. 49 patients (52%) had aneurysms in other vascular territories, with some patients having multiple aneurysms in different regions. These included 9 patients (9.5%) with carotid, 3 patients (3.2%) with vertebral, 5 patients (5.3%) with splenic, 11 patients (11.7%) with mesenteric, 2 patients (2.1%) with renal, 15 patients (15.9%) with iliac/femoral, 6 patients (6.4%) with subclavian, 23 patients (24.5%) with cerebral, and 10 patients (10.6%) with coronary aneurysms. For aortic dissections, 13 patients (14%) had type A and 9 patients (9.5%) had type B dissections. Additionally, 20 patients had dissections in other vascular territories, with some patients experiencing dissections in multiple regions. These included 8 patients (8.5%) with carotid, 8 patients (8.5%) with vertebral, 1 patient (1.1%) with renal, 3 patients (3.2%) with iliac, 2 patients (2.1%) with coronary, and 3 patients (3.2%) with innominate artery dissections. Conclusion Aortic involvement is the most common in patients with LDS; however, these patients are also at an increased risk of developing aneurysms and dissections in various vascular territories. This highlights the importance of screening and close follow-up in these patients, potentially through whole-body imaging to identify such abnormalities. Further research is needed to identify patients at higher risk for aneurysms and dissections compared to others.

Abstract Background Common genetic variation has been linked to an increased risk of developing dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in case-control studies. However, the phenotypic profile and biological mechanisms by which genetic background may predispose individuals to DCM and outcomes in the general population remain unclear. Aim The primary objectives of this study were twofold: (1) to validate a DCM polygenic score (PRS-1) based on a prior meta-analysis of case–control genetic association studies [Tadros R et al. Nat Genet (2021)]; and (2) To apply this PRS, along with two recently developed PRSs for DCM [PRS-2 from Zheng SL et al. Nat Genet (2024) and PRS-3 from Jurgens SJ et al. Nat Genet (2024)] to a general population that underwent comprehensive longitudinal phenotypic assessments and had long-term outcomes available. Methods While the PRS-1 was derived from only 13 SNPs, PRS-2 and PRS-3 were generated from 709,534 and 1,072,247 SNPs, respectively with significant overlap between them. These DCM-PRSs were applied to an unselected community-based cohort (n=1897) aged >45 years, who underwent a physical examination, echocardiogram, and blood sample at baseline. Subsequent clinical outcomes were collected over a median 16 year follow-up (IQR: 15-17). Results No significant differences between the quartiles were present in terms of age, sex (48% male), and cardiovascular risk factors (CV-RF) (such as hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery disease). However, linear regression models demonstrated a significant correlation between all DCM-PRSs and left ventricular (LV) parameters, including LV ejection fraction, LV end-systolic diameter, and LV end-diastolic diameter (Table). Multivariable regression analysis confirmed that these correlations were independent of age, sex, CV-RF, and population stratification (adjusted for the first 10 principal components [PCs]). During follow-up, 47 individuals developed DCM. A logistic regression analysis, using a 3:1 matched cohort of non-DCM vs. DCM individuals based on age and sex and adjusted for the same 10 PCs, found a significant correlation between DCM development and both PRS-1 [OR=2.27 (1.06–4.85), p=0.03] and PRS-3 [OR=2.63 (1.20–5.75), p=0.02], while PRS-2 did not show a significant association [OR=1.85 (0.84–4.06), p=0.12]. No association was found between the DCM-PRSs and heart failure (HF) biomarkers (aldosterone, natriuretic peptides, ST2, Galectin-3) or HF outcomes (all-cause mortality/HF hospitalization). Conclusion PRS-1 for DCM despite being derived from only 13 risk alleles, performs at least as well as the newer and more extensive PRSs, in its correlation with LV function, dimensions, and DCM development (except for PRS-2) in a general population. The absence of correlation between these DCM-PRSs and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system or natriuretic peptides suggests that genetic background influences LV traits through mechanisms independent of these biological pathways.

Abstract Background Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) develops over a prolonged latent period, progressing from subclinical ASCVD to major cardiovascular events due to plaque accumulation. Subclinical ASCVD is a valid subrogate to assess potential risk factors or ASCVD. Dietary patterns are known to contribute to or prevent ASCVD. Dairy consumption has been associated with lower rates of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes, while saturated fats, present in most dairy products, have been associated with ASCVD. Studies assessing the association between subclinical ASCVD and dairy consumption have shown mixed results but have not been systematically analyzed Purpose This study aimed to systematically review and synthesize the existing evidence on the association between dairy product consumption and subclinical ASCVD Methods The study protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews and adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register, Google Scholar, and Web of Science to identify experimental and observational studies that examined the association of dairy product consumption with measures of subclinical ASCVD assessed through coronary artery calcium (CAC) scanning, intima-media thickness (IMT), pulse pressure (PP) or pulse wave velocity (PWV), from inception to July 9, 2024. Titles and abstracts were screened in duplicate, followed by a full-text review and data abstraction from articles that met the study criteria. Dairy products were classified as: a) Dairy, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, encompassing milk, yogurt, cheese, lactose-free milk, and fortified soy milk/yogurt; and b) Dairy+, which further included higher fat content products such as cream cheese, sour cream, cream, and butter Results A total of 973 articles were identified; 22 met inclusion criteria representing 20 studies; being predominantly cross-sectional (55%) conducted in North America (50%); food frequency questionnaires were the most implemented tool for dietary assessment (86%), and 41% used PWV for subclinical ASCVD assessment; Fig. 1. Total Dairy and Dairy+ exhibited predominantly neutral effects with a trend toward a beneficial effect, similar to yogurt intake. Milk and cheese demonstrated contrasting effects, with studies reporting protective, neutral, and harmful associations, particularly for PWV and IMT. Limited data on CAC suggested no strong relationship with dairy consumption; Table 1 Conclusion Available evidence on the association between dairy consumption and subclinical ASCVD is complex with mixed effects across dairy products. No consistent evidence of harm or benefit was found; future research is needed to clarify the role of different dairy components in the development of subclinical ASCVD and incidence of cardiovascular eventsFig1.Summary of studies characteristics Table 1.Summary of effects

Abstract Background Mitral regurgitation (MR) and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) are prevalent valvular heart diseases associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Traditional echocardiography faces limitations in availability, cost, consistency, and reliability, leading to misdiagnosis and undertreatment. The application of artificial intelligence (AI) to echocardiographic scans has the potential to address these challenges. Methods This study evaluates the performance of an AI algorithm on an external population. The algorithm utilizes deep learning networks to analyze echocardiographic exams for diagnosing atrioventricular valve disorders. We tested the algorithm on transthoracic echocardiography data collected from a single center between 2013 and 2023. The model's performance was compared to ground truth values using two classification schemes: distinguishing between normal-mild and moderate-severe regurgitation, and categorizing results into four groups: normal, mild, moderate, and severe. Results The MR cohort included 280 patients, while the TR cohort comprised 298 patients. The model demonstrated a robust ability to identify clinically significant (moderate and above) atrioventricular valve regurgitation. The MR model achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.98 (95% CI: 0.97–0.99), with 91% accuracy, 95% sensitivity, and 89% specificity. In comparison, the TR model exhibited an AUC of 0.96 (95% CI: 0.94–0.98), with 84% accuracy, 91% sensitivity, and 80% specificity. Conclusion The model demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy and reliability in assessing atrioventricular valve regurgitation severity, highlighting its potential as a valuable clinical tool. The findings underscore the role of AI in complementing expert evaluations and improving access to effective diagnostics, with future applications potentially including point-of-care diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression.

Abstract Background The National Amyloidosis Centre (NAC) staging system for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is used to classify patients into prognostic categories based on N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The NAC staging system has been shown to predict ongoing survival throughout the course of ATTR-CM, with survival progressively decreasing from stage I to stage III. Acoramidis, a highly selective, oral transthyretin stabilizer that achieves near-complete (≥90%) transthyretin stabilization, has recently been approved in Europe and the USA for the treatment of wild-type or variant ATTR-CM in adults. In the phase 3 ATTRibute-CM study, acoramidis treatment was well tolerated and led to a 42% relative risk reduction in the composite of all-cause mortality and recurrent cardiovascular hospitalizations over 30 months compared with placebo (p=0.0005). Purpose To evaluate the ability of acoramidis treatment, as compared with placebo, to stabilize or improve NAC stage after 30 months in participants with ATTR-CM from the ATTRibute-CM study. Methods Participants in ATTRibute-CM were randomized 2:1 to receive acoramidis or placebo for 30 months. Efficacy analyses were conducted in the modified intention-to-treat population, which consisted of all randomized participants who had received at least one dose of acoramidis or placebo, had at least one efficacy evaluation after baseline and had a baseline eGFR ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m2. NAC stage at baseline and Month 30 was assessed. Changes from baseline to Month 30 were categorized as "stable", "improved" or "worsened". The "stable" category comprised participants who stayed within the same NAC stage at baseline and Month 30. The "improved" category comprised participants who moved from a higher NAC stage at baseline to a lower stage at Month 30. The "worsened or missing" category comprised participants who moved from a lower NAC stage at baseline to a higher stage at Month 30 and participants whose Month 30 NAC stage was missing. The change in NAC stage was compared between treatment groups using a stratified Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test with stratification factors of genotype, NT-proBNP level and eGFR as recorded in the interactive voice/web response system at randomization. Results Overall, 611 participants were analysed (acoramidis: n=409; placebo: n=202). Baseline characteristics were comparable between treatment groups. Most participants had NAC stage I at baseline (acoramidis: 58.9%; placebo: 59.4%; Table). At Month 30, NAC stage remained stable or improved in 52.1% of acoramidis participants compared with 43.1% of placebo participants (p=0.0351; Figure). Conclusions Acoramidis treatment resulted in a greater proportion of participants whose NAC stage improved or remained stable at Month 30 compared with placebo, indicating better stabilization of their disease.

Since its introduction into medical terminology by Lord Henry Cohen in 1941, the term “neurapraxia” has become established in the neurological and neurosurgical lexicon, although it is often misused or misspelled. It denotes a transient dysfunction of a peripheral nerve, as distinct from axonotmesis and neurotmesis, which describe more significant structural injuries to a peripheral nerve. To expand our understanding of neurapraxia, it is necessary to examine the phenomenon in both temporal and spatial contexts. This study examines neurapraxia in: (A) Time—(1) the origins of the term neurapraxia and (2) the time-course of a neurapraxic injury and its recovery, and (B) Space—(3) the microstructure of a neurapraxic injury and (4) the locations of neurapraxic injuries within the peripheral nervous system. We demonstrate that the term neurapraxia encompasses both a temporal and a spatial definition. In time, it applies to transient peripheral nerve palsy, from which recovery occurs before there is sufficient time for axonal regeneration, typically within a few weeks. In space, there is a histopathological change limited to localized demyelination in nerves lined by epineurium and myelinated by Schwann cells. Nerves distal to the spine qualify as nerves to which the term neurapraxia can apply; however, cranial nerves and spinal nerve roots (including cauda equina) are inconsistent with this owing to the variability in myelinating cells along their course (oligodendroglia proximally, i.e., central glial segment), the absence of an epineurial covering, and exposure to cerebrospinal fluid.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Myelomeningocele is defined by the presence of a fluid-filled sac that contains the neural placode and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at the level of the spinal defect. Alternatively, the term myeloschisis is used when the neural placode is not contained within a CSF-filled sac. While both are eligible for prenatal closure, few studies have characterized the impact of the type of lesion on postnatal outcomes. This study compares the outcomes of these 2 types of open spinal dysraphism using data from the Fetal Myelomeningocele Consortium registry sponsored by the North American Fetal Therapy Network. METHODS: The prospective observational Fetal Myelomeningocele Consortium registry was used to extract deidentified data corresponding to patients who underwent fetal closure of myelomeningocele vs myeloschisis. Demographics, operative characteristics, perioperative complications, and postnatal outcomes were collected. RESULTS: A total of 1327 patients were identified, including 991 (74.7%) with myelomeningocele and 336 (25.3%) with myeloschisis. Compared with myelomeningocele, myeloschisis was associated with lower rates of prenatal talipes (11% vs 24%, P < .001) and higher rates of favorable prenatal movement (94% vs 86%, P < .001). Postnatally, myeloschisis conferred higher rates of leg movement (97% vs 90%, P = .002) and an increased likelihood of ambulation in the household (10.4% vs 4.1%, P = .009) and outside (7.2% vs 1.9%, P = .004) at 1 year. However, myeloschisis was also linked to greater use of skin patches during closure (49% vs 27%, P < .001), higher CSF leak rates among those with wound dehiscence (26% vs 8%, P = .014), and more frequent CSF diversion and tethered cord surgeries at follow-up. CONCLUSION: Myeloschisis and myelomeningocele demonstrate distinct clinical profiles. Although patients with myeloschisis may have favorable motor outcomes, they are also characterized by higher rates of CSF leakage, CSF diversion, and tethered cord surgery. These findings highlight the need for lesion-specific prognostication and may inform surgical planning and parental counseling in the context of prenatal spina bifida closure.

Abstract Introduction Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging enables precise, non-invasive assessment of cardiac structure and function, yet the clinical utility of CMR metrics is limited by the lack of comprehensive, population-specific reference values. By directly reanalyzing data from a large, multi-ethnic cohort rather than relying solely on pooled literature, could enable the establishment of standardized reference ranges and severity grading thresholds. Aim To provide comprehensive, age-, sex-, and ethnicity-stratified CMR reference ranges and severity grading thresholds for key ventricular and atrial parameters. Methods We analyzed over 9,000 CMR scans from the Healthy Hearts Consortium (HHC), comprising six international cohorts. All individuals were free from overt cardiovascular disease and major comorbidities, ensuring a verified healthy sample. Two automated segmentation software solutions—cvi42 (Circle Cardiovascular Imaging) and suiteHEART (Neosoft)—were used to quantify left and right ventricular volumes, myocardial mass, and atrial volumes in standard cine stacks. All endorsed segmentation modes were applied. Quality control protocol combined expert visual review and statistical outlier analysis. We derived 95% prediction intervals (PI) to define the normal range, with additional severity thresholds for mild (95–99.73% PI), moderate (99.73–99.99% PI), and severe (&gt;99.99% PI) deviation from the reference range. Results The final dataset comprised of 9,059 verified healthy adults aged 18–83 years (mean 61 ± 13 years), with a near-equal sex distribution (51% women). Demographics included White (81.6%), South Asian (5.6%), Mixed/Other (5.3%), Black (3.8%), and Chinese (3.7%) participants. Results demonstrated that sex, age, and ethnicity strongly influenced cardiac indices. Men had higher indexed LV and RV volumes and greater myocardial mass than women. Black participants presented the highest indexed LV myocardial mass across age groups, whereas Chinese participants had comparatively lower myocardial mass values (Figure 1). In contrast, atrial volumes remained relatively stable across age categories. Comparative analysis showed minor differences between the two software tools, particularly for atrial parameters; however, derived ejection fractions remained consistent. We established age-, sex-, and ethnicity-stratified reference ranges for key CMR parameters. To facilitate clinical interpretation, we defined severity thresholds corresponding to mild, moderate, and severe abnormalities. Conclusion This large-scale, international effort addresses prior limitations in CMR interpretation by offering robust, contemporary reference ranges and severity grading applicable to diverse populations and imaging protocols. Our severity grading thresholds support consistency in clinical reporting and decision-making, enabling clearer identification of early subclinical changes and more accurate monitoring of disease progression.Subset of CMR value ranges in females