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BACKGROUND: We explored whether the maximum predicted walking distance, assessed with six-minute walk test (6MWT) and reflecting submaximal functional exercise capacity, is decreased among patients with pectus excavatum (PEX). METHODS: This study comprised a retrospective analysis of patients with PEX who underwent a 6MWT for the assessment of functional capacity. The maximum distance walked was recorded and compared to reference values established for different populations, including a young and healthy South American population. RESULTS: We included 43 patients with PEX who underwent 6MWT. The mean age was 17.8 ± 6.7 years. The mean maximum distance walked was significantly lower than the predicted distance (600.8 ± 67.6 metres vs. 729.8 ± 67.5 metres, p < 0.0001). Using the Enright reference equation including an older reference population, the mean negative difference was higher (PEX patients walked 190.4 ± 78.4 metres less than predicted, p < 0.0001). We also applied the Li et al. reference equation accounting for sex among other variables, detecting a decreased walked distance compared to the gender-adjusted predicted distance (PEX patients walked a mean 222.4 ± 87.4 metres less than predicted, p < 0.0001). Using the Ulrich et al. equation, PEX patients walked a mean 114.2 ± 85.1 metres less than predicted (p < 0.0001). Although of uncertain clinical relevance, there was a significant decrease in the mean oxygen saturation after exercise (baseline 97.4 ± 1.2%, vs. final 96.4 ± 2.1%, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we identified a significant reduction in the maximum walked distance among patients with PEX compared to the predicted distance, thus potentially emerging as an unsophisticated means to evaluate and quantify functional exercise capacity.

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The potential clinical usefulness of electron density (ED) imaging, that can be directly estimated using dual-layer spectral computed tomography (CT), has been poorly investigated. We explored whether ED imaging might improve thrombus identification compared to conventional imaging in vitro. We evaluated mechanical thrombectomy material obtained from patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) treated in a tertiary level stroke center and immediately fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and stored in polystyrene test tubes. The test tubes were immersed in a bucket of water for evaluation by spectral CT, along with scattered control tubes. All images were obtained using a dual-layer detector CT scanner. Each tube was assessed using multiparametric side-by-side view of conventional CT (120 kVp), low monoenergetic imaging (40 keV), and ED images. Fifty-eight polystyrene tubes were analyzed, comprising 52 tubes with thrombectomy material of at least 1 mm2 size obtained from 52 AIS patients, and six control tubes filled with formalin. ED imaging identified accurately the presence of material in all tubes, whereas 2 (3%) of the tubes containing thrombus were not identified by conventional CT, leading to a very good agreement between observers for the presence of material using conventional CT and ED imaging (kappa =0.84, P<0.001). Using ED imaging, thrombus material showed a mean density of 108.8±2.9 percent ED relative to water (%EDW), water had a mean density of 100.0±0.3 %EDW, and formalin a mean density of 103.5±1.2 %EDW. Compared to conventional imaging and 40 keV monoenergetic, ED imaging had a significantly higher signal-to-noise ratio (conventional 10.4±7.0, vs. 40 keV 11.5±8.4, vs. ED 490.0±304.5, P<0.001) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) (conventional 4.3±4.3, vs. 40 keV 5.7±11.2, vs. ED 37.8±29.1, P<0.001). In this in-vitro study, we demonstrated improved visualization of thrombus with ED imaging compared to conventional imaging and low monoenergetic imaging, with a significant increase in CNR.

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BACKGROUND: Hyperacute cardiac imaging of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), though desirable, is impractical. Using delayed-enhancement, low-dose, non-gated, chest spectral computed tomography scans (DESCT), we explored the prevalence and patterns of incidental myocardial late iodine enhancement (LIE) and embolic sources, and their relationship with stroke etiology. METHODS: Since July 2020, DESCT was performed after cerebrovascular CT angiography (CTA) among patients with suspected AIS undergoing CT using a dual-layer spectral scanner, without additional contrast administration. Images were analyzed using monoenergetic reconstructions and iodine density maps, and the myocardial extracellular volume fraction (ECV, %) was calculated. RESULTS: Eighty patients with AIS were included. DESCT identified a cardiac thrombi in 6 patients (7.5%), and a complex aortic plaque in 4 (5%) cases; reclassifying 5 embolic strokes of uncertain source (28% of ESUS) to cardioembolic (CE, n = 3) and non-CE (n = 2) etiologies. LIE was identified in 38 (48%) patients, most commonly (82%) of ischemic pattern. We did not identify significant relationships between AIS etiology and the presence, pattern, and extent of LIE (p > 0.05); ECV (p = 0.56), severe aortic (p = 0.25) or valvular (p = 0.26) disease, or the extent of coronary calcification (p = 0.39). Patients with evidence of major cardiovascular DESCT findings had higher rates of all-cause death at 90 days (42% vs. 19%, p = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, hyperacute cardiac imaging of AIS with DESCT identified a high prevalence of incidental cardiac disease predominantly involving LIE of ischemic etiology and mostly not related to the stroke etiology.

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BACKGROUND: Systolic dysfunction in pectus excavatum (PEX) is usually very subtle and mainly focused on the right ventricle (RV), leading to normal or unremarkable cardiac imaging findings unless involving exercise stress. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated systolic function in PEX using longitudinal strain cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), a validated parameter for the assessment of the systolic deformation of subendocardial fibers. METHODS: This prospective registry comprised consecutive patients with PEX who were referred to CMR to define treatment strategies or to establish surgical candidacy. We also included a control group of 15 healthy volunteers without chest wall abnormalities. Using dedicated software, we evaluated the endocardial global longitudinal strain (GLS) of both ventricles and the endocardial global circumferential strain (GCS) of the left ventricle (LV). RESULTS: A total of 50 patients with PEX comprised the study population, with a mean age of 19.9 ± 8.0 years. The right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) of patients with PEX was significantly lower compared to the control group both at end-expiration (59.5 ± 6.8 vs. 64.7 ± 4.7%, p = 0.008) and end-inspiration (56.7 ± 7.2%, vs. 62.7 ± 4.4, p = 0.004); as well as the pulmonary stroke distance (12.6 ± 2.5, vs. 15.0 ± 2.0 cm, p = 0.001). The LV volumetric analysis revealed no differences between PEX and the control group (p > 0.05 for all) regardless of the respiratory cycle, with a mean expiratory LV ejection fraction (LVEF) of 61.4 ± 6.0%. In contrast, the GLS of the LV was significantly lower in PEX compared to controls (-21.2 ± 3.2 vs. -23.7 ± 3.0%, p = 0.010), whereas GCS was similar either at expiration (-28.5 ± 4.0%, vs. -29.5 ± 2.8, p = 0.38) or inspiration (-29.3 ± 4.1%, vs.-28.9 ± 2.3, p = 0.73). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we demonstrated that longitudinal strain analysis might enable the detection of very subtle left ventricular systolic function abnormalities in patients with PEX, that are commonly overlooked using the conventional assessment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

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RESUMEN Objetivo: Distintas alteraciones del electrocardiograma (ECG) han sido asociadas a disfunción sistólica ventricular izquierda (DSVI), si bien la asociación con el infradesnivel del segmento ST (IST) del plano frontal del ECG estándar no se encuentra establecida. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar si el IST de la derivación DI (IST-1) permite predecir la presencia de DSVI. Material y métodos: Se incluyeron de forma prospectiva pacientes portadores factores de riesgo o cardiopatías crónicas estables, con ECG basal y ecocardiograma que aportara evaluación de la fracción de eyección (FEVI), motilidad ventricular izquierda y evaluación dicotómica sobre la presencia de hipertrofia ventricular izquierda (HVI). Evaluamos la morfología del segmento ST en derivaciones DI y V6, definiéndose como anormal (IST-1; IST-6) al ST infradesnivelado (≥1mm a 80mseg del punto J) o descendente. Resultados: Se analizaron en forma prospectiva 691 pacientes, edad media 69,8 ± 12 años, 61,6% hombres. Se identificó IST-1 e IST-6 en 250 (36,2%) y 199 (28,8%) casos, respectivamente. La presencia de IST-1 e IST-6 se asoció a una FEVI significativamente menor comparado con la ausencia de dicho hallazgo: 44,8 ± 13,9% vs. 55,6 ± 8,9%, (p <0,0001) y 45,8 ± 14,1% vs. 54,1 ± 10,4% (p <0,0001) respectivamente. Ambos se asociaron a la presencia de DSVI, definida como FEVI <50%, aunque el IST-1 mostró mejor rendimiento diagnóstico que el IST-6 [área bajo la curva 0,72 (IC 95% 0,69-0,76) vs. 0,64 (IC 95% 0,610,68), p = 0,0001]. Conclusiones: Este estudio mostró que la depresión del segmento ST de la derivación DI permite predecir la presencia de DSVI mejor que IST-6. La potencial relevancia de dichos hallazgos debería situarse en el contexto actual de la emergente utilización de dispositivos wearables que analizan la información electrocardiográfica mediante una única derivación.

ABSTRACT Background: Different electrocardiographic abnormalities have been associated with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), although the association with standard electrocardiographic frontal plane ST-segment depression (STD) has not been established. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether lead I STD (STD-I) allows predicting the presence of LVSD. Methods: Patients with risk factors or stable chronic heart disease, and baseline electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram that provided evaluation of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular wall motility, and dichotomous evaluation of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), were prospectively included in the study. ST-segment morphology in leads I and V6 was evaluated, defining horizontal (≥1mm at 80 ms from the J point) or downsloping STD as abnormal STD-I and STD-6. Results: A total of 691 patients; with mean age of 69.8 ± 12 years and 61.6% men, were prospectively analyzed. STD-I and STD-6 were identified in 250 (36.2%) and 199 (28.8%) cases, respectively. Presence of STD-I and STD-6 was associated with a significantly lower LVEF compared with the absence of this finding: 44.8 ± 13.9% vs. 55.6 ± 8.9% (p <0.0001) and 45.8 ± 14.1% vs. 54.1±10.4% (p <0.0001), respectively. Both were associated with the presence of LVSD, defined as LVEF <50%, although STD-I showed better diagnostic performance than STD-6 [area under the ROC curve 0.72 (95% CI 0.69-0.76) vs. 0.64 (95% CI 0.61-0.68), p = 0.0001]. Conclusions: This study showed that STD-I predicts the presence of LVSD better than STD-6. The potential relevance of these findings should be placed in the current context of the emerging use of wearable devices that analyze electrocardiographic information through a single lead.

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RESUMEN Introducción: El score de calcio coronario (SCC) es una herramienta de prevención subutilizada, en parte debido a su elevado costo, que no debería diferir del de una tomografía computarizada (TC) de tórax. El SCC puede ser evaluado mediante una TC de tórax convencional, generalmente utilizando escalas visuales o semicuantitativas, y con valor pronóstico similar al gatillado. Material y métodos: En este estudio observacional retrospectivo, incluimos pacientes (n = 35) en quienes se realizó dentro de la misma internación una TC de tórax no gatillada de baja dosis y un SCC gatillado. Resultados: Identificamos una buena concordancia entre los métodos tanto en su valoración cualitativa como cuantitativa, con una media de 3,86 ± 0,7 segmentos con calcificaciones arteriales coronarias mediante SCC gatillado, comparado con 3,79 ± 0,6 segmentos mediante TC de tórax no gatillada de baja dosis (coeficiente de correlación de concordancia 0,98 [IC 95% 0,95-0,99]) y una subestimación del SCC evaluado mediante unidades Agatston del 9,8 %. Conclusión: En este estudio, demostramos que el SCC podría ser evaluado con precisión de forma tanto cualitativa como cuantitativa mediante estudios de TC de tórax no gatillada de baja dosis.

ABSTRACT Background: Coronary calcium scoring (CCS) is an underused prevention tool, possibly due to its high cost, which should not differ from a chest computed tomography (CT) scan. CCS can be assessed using conventional chest CT, generally through a visual or semiquantitative approach, and with a similar prognostic value compared to ECG-gated CCS. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we included patients (n = 35) who underwent a low-dose non-gated chest CT (LDCT) and an ECG-gated CCS within the same hospitalization. Results: We identified a good agreement between techniques both in their qualitative and quantitative assessment, with a mean of 3.86 ± 0.7 segments with calcifications by ECG-gated compared to 3.79 ± 0.6 segments by LDCT (concordance correlation coefficient 0.98 (95% CI 0.95-0.99), and a 9.8% underestimation of the Agatston score. Conclusions: In this study, we showed that the CCS might be accurately assessed both qualitatively and quantitatively by LDCT studies.

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The complex and reciprocal relationship between the brain and the heart has gained increasing attention under the concept of neurocardiology. Myocardial injury is common in cerebrovascular disease, and cardiovascular complications are the second leading cause of death after stroke. Cardiac computed tomography (CT) is a fast and reliable non-invasive tool for the assessment of cardioembolic sources. Compared to single energy CT, spectral/dual energy cardiac CT improves tissue characterization and also leads to significant reductions in contrast volume. In this review article, we portray the potential clinical applications of spectral CT in neurocardiology, focusing in the enhanced diagnosis of cardioembolic sources and cardiovascular risk assessment of patients with stroke, including improved detection of thrombus, identification of subtle myocardial disease, and pulmonary complications within the same session.

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