What's New in Cardiac MRI? — May 14, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 41 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
May 14, 2026 · 41 articles · 15 research themes · covering May 07, 2026 – May 14, 2026
Overview
Across this week’s set of studies, a dominant theme is the move toward more precise, imaging-anchored risk stratification in cardiovascular disease. Multiple cohorts and analyses leverage cardiac MRI (CMR)–derived measures—ranging from biological aging indices (PhenoAgeAccel), pericardial fat volume, diastolic parameters, and coronary dimensions, to CMR biomarkers such as LGE and mitral valve–related markers—to predict outcomes like heart failure, mortality, diabetes, and arrhythmias. Several works also emphasize mechanistic linkage: for example, accelerated biological aging and reduced coronary size translate into measurable structural/functional cardiac changes, while in mitral valve prolapse, specific CMR markers (LGE, mitral annular disjunction, systolic curling) associate with arrhythmic risk.
A second major thread is disease modification and targeted pathways—especially fibrosis, iron overload, and amyloid. Trial designs and clinical case series highlight the clinical importance of identifying reversible or actionable drivers: anti-fibrotic strategies after TAVI in high-fibrotic-burden aortic stenosis, rapid-onset iron overload cardiomyopathy in cirrhosis (and early chelation timing in Diamond-Blackfan anemia), and RNA-targeted therapy for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy. Complementing this, myocarditis and atrial cardiomyopathy reviews stress structured imaging integration and mechanism-based frameworks that can improve diagnosis and prevention beyond traditional single-disease models.
Finally, the digest reflects rapid methodological and systems innovation in imaging and care delivery. Foundation models and “glass-box” agentic LLM workflows aim to reduce labeling burden and improve transparency in CMR interpretation, while reviews on zero-fluoroscopy electrophysiology and evolving credentialing/training frameworks address implementation and safety. Together with studies on extreme exercise physiology, congenital heart disease phenotyping, pulmonary hypertension right-ventricular remodeling, and coronary microvascular dysfunction therapies, the overall picture is of cardiovascular medicine increasingly combining advanced imaging, AI, and targeted therapeutics to refine prognosis and personalize management.
Cardiac MRI biomarkers & risk prediction
Characterisation of Incident Heart Failure after Ischaemic Stroke/Transient Ischaemic Attack: A UK Biobank Study.
This prospective UK Biobank cohort study characterized incident heart failure risk after ischemic stroke/TIA in adults aged 40–69 years using hospital-coded HF admissions and described associated CMR findings. Among 405,406 participants without prior HF, the study quantified the risk of developing incident HF in stroke/TIA survivors and related it to all-cause mortality and other outcomes. The results help refine post-stroke/TIA cardiovascular risk assessment and provide CMR-linked phenotyping for future prevention strategies.
Muthalaly RG, Nerlekar N, Tan S et al. · ESC heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
The effects of aging on left ventricular diastolic function evaluated with 4D flow MRI: a novel approach using mitral velocity and propagation velocity measurements.
This study evaluated how aging affects left ventricular diastolic function using 4D flow MRI–derived parameters, specifically mitral inflow velocity and propagation velocity (VP), in 60 healthy volunteers (ages 20–80) who also underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). The key finding is that diastolic filling parameters typically obtained with TTE can be characterized with 4D-flow MRI and related to aging-associated changes in LV filling dynamics. Scientifically, this supports 4D-flow MRI as a noninvasive method to quantify diastolic function across the adult lifespan and potentially improve physiological phenotyping.
Stipechi LV, Craiem D, Gencer U et al. · Physiological measurement · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Predictors of Long-Term Outcomes in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: The NHLBI HCM Registry.
Using the NHLBI Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Registry, this JAMA study combined prospectively collected clinical history, imaging, genetic, and biomarker data to improve prediction of adverse events in 2750 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy enrolled across 44 North American and European sites. The key finding is that integrating multimodal clinical, CMR imaging, genetic, and biomarker information can refine risk prediction beyond existing guidelines that mainly target sudden cardiac death. This is significant because better risk models could reduce avoidable implantable cardioverter-defibrillator use while preventing missed high-risk patients.
Kramer CM, Kolm P, DiMarco JP et al. · JAMA · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Prediction of Arrhythmic Events in Mitral Valve Prolapse: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated whether cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) biomarkers predict arrhythmic events in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP), synthesizing 15 studies totaling 1,994 patients. It found that late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), mitral annular disjunction (MAD), and systolic curling were each significantly associated with increased arrhythmic risk, with pooled relative risks around 1.5–1.8. The clinical significance is that CMR risk stratification using these specific imaging markers can help identify MVP patients at higher risk for arrhythmic events.
Papanastasiou CA, Kampaktsis PN, Papalamprakopoulou Z et al. · The American journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Association of pericardial fat volume with risk of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus or major adverse cardiovascular events: Evidence from UK Biobank cohort study.
This UK Biobank cohort study assessed whether pericardial fat volume measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (mean estimate pericardial fat area, MEPFA) predicts incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in 39,125 participants. Over a median 55-month follow-up, the analysis used multivariable Cox models and Kaplan–Meier curves to relate pericardial fat to 343 new T2DM cases and 1,894 new MACE events. The significance is that it tests pericardial adiposity as a CMR-based risk marker for cardiometabolic and cardiovascular outcomes, potentially enabling earlier risk identification.
Hu F, Wang J, Zeng X et al. · Nutrition & metabolism · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
The influence of accelerated aging-related cardiac remodeling on cardiovascular outcomes: an observational study.
This observational study in 31,722 UK Biobank participants (mean age 54.6 years; 48.1% male) examined whether phenotypic age acceleration (PhenoAgeAccel, the residual of PhenoAge from 9 biomarkers regressed on chronological age) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes and mortality, and whether cardiac remodeling and cardiometabolic diseases mediate these relationships using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). Higher PhenoAgeAccel was associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes and mortality, and these associations were linked to adverse cardiac structure and function measures captured by CMR, consistent with a remodeling pathway. The findings suggest that accelerated biological aging quantified by PhenoAgeAccel may identify individuals at higher cardiovascular risk and highlight cardiac remodeling and cardiometabolic processes as potential targets for prevention or risk stratification.
Lv Z, Li K, Liu C et al. · The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac remodeling, fibrosis, and cardiomyopathy progression
Effect of anti-fibrotic therapy on regression of myocardial fibrosis after TAVI: Design and rationale of the Reduce-MFA DZHK25 trial.
The Reduce-MFA DZHK25 trial design will test anti-fibrotic therapy to promote regression of aortic stenosis (AS)-induced myocardial fibrosis after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in AS patients with high baseline fibrotic burden. The key finding is the trial’s planned assessment of whether anti-fibrotic treatment reduces myocardial fibrosis and improves downstream outcomes such as left ventricular remodeling, symptoms, mortality, and cardiac hospitalizations. If successful, this strategy could establish a fibrosis-targeted therapeutic approach to improve post-TAVI outcomes in high-risk AS patients.
Puls M, Zeisberg EM, Placzek M et al. · ESC heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
A study on the correlation between cardiac magnetic resonance characteristics and myocardial fibrosis in overweight and obese individuals.
This BMC Medical Imaging study used cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in 192 participants stratified by body mass index (normal weight n=77, overweight n=37, obesity n=78) to test whether CMR measures relate to myocardial fibrosis assessed by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) positivity. It evaluated cardiac structure/function, myocardial strain, and epicardial adipose tissue volume (EATV) and aimed to determine how these CMR characteristics differ by weight category and predict LGE positivity. The study is significant because it links obesity-related cardiac remodeling and fat distribution to subclinical fibrosis using noninvasive CMR biomarkers.
Liu L, Yao Y, Yu H et al. · BMC medical imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Longitudinal changes in cardiac function, volumes and fibrosis in a prospective cohort of female Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy carriers.
This prospective cohort study followed 75 genetically confirmed female Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy carriers (MDC) and 22 non-carrier females with cardiac MRI (CMR) at three annual visits to characterize longitudinal changes in ventricular volumes, function, and fibrosis by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). The key finding was that MDC showed measurable progression in cardiac remodeling and fibrosis over time compared with non-carriers. Scientifically, this clarifies the natural history of cardiomyopathy in female dystrophin-mutation carriers and supports CMR-based surveillance strategies.
Ledingham L, Conroy S, Kanwar K et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Coronary artery disease, plaque characterization, and ischemia
Smaller coronary artery size in adults born preterm.
This study examined whether coronary artery size differs in adults born preterm by performing 1.5 T cardiac MRI with short-axis bSSFP cine for structure/function and 3D bSSFP coronary MR angiography for left main (LM), LAD, and RCA area and diameter. Adults born preterm had smaller coronary artery size than term-born controls. Reduced coronary dimensions in adulthood may help explain the increased ischemic heart disease risk associated with preterm birth and could inform future risk stratification.
Barton GP, Sharma K, Hussain T et al. · Pediatric research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Repositioning of exercise treadmill testing in contemporary chest pain management.
This narrative review reassessed the clinical role of exercise treadmill testing (ETT) for chest pain evaluation in contemporary practice, focusing on how ETT compares with coronary CT angiography (CTCA) and stress imaging (cardiac MRI and stress echocardiography) across diagnostic and prognostic domains. It concludes that while ETT has lower accuracy for obstructive coronary artery disease than modern imaging, it still provides exercise-derived functional/prognostic information and can remain useful in selected pathways considering cost and resource implications and guideline positioning. The review is clinically significant because it helps clinicians decide when ETT is an appropriate, efficient alternative or complement to imaging-led strategies for suspected CAD.
Xue X, Bai Y, Li H et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Association between coronary high-intensity plaque and pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation and plaque morphology.
This retrospective imaging study analyzed 104 coronary lesions in 86 patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) before elective percutaneous coronary intervention. High-intensity plaque (HIP), defined on T1-weighted CMR as a plaque-to-myocardium signal intensity ratio (PMR) ≥1.4, was associated with greater pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation (PCATA) and specific plaque morphology features on CCTA. The findings are significant because they link CMR-defined plaque composition to CT measures of high-risk coronary microenvironment, potentially improving noninvasive risk stratification.
Ishii Y, Watabe H, Usami K et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Coronary microvascular dysfunction & INOCA therapies
Randomized Controlled Trial of Vericiguat in Patients with Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction causing Stable Chest Pain (V-COM): Study Protocol for a Randomised Control Trial.
This study protocol will test vericiguat, a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator, in patients with coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) causing stable chest pain (V-COM trial), using quantitative stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) to measure stress myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR). The trial is designed to determine whether vericiguat improves coronary microvascular perfusion metrics compared with control in this INOCA/CMD population. If effective, vericiguat could provide a targeted pharmacologic therapy for CMD assessed by stress CMR, potentially reducing ischemia and major adverse cardiovascular events in patients without obstructive coronary artery disease.
Lo CK, Ip NH, Sin TH et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Heart failure prognosis & hemodynamic coupling indices
Cardiac magnetic resonance-derived left atrioventricular coupling index predicts outcome in reduced ejection fraction.
This multicenter DERIVATE registry study evaluated whether the cardiac MRI-derived left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI)—calculated as the ratio of left atrial to left ventricular end-diastolic volumes—predicts outcomes in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (LVEF <50%). Higher or altered LACI was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality and heart-failure outcomes using Cox regression models. If validated, CMR-derived LACI could become a practical imaging biomarker for prognosis in reduced-EF heart failure.
Guglielmo M, Fedele D, Bergamaschi L et al. · ESC heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Atrial cardiomyopathy & atrial fibrillation risk mechanisms
Atrial Cardiomyopathy: A Cardiologist’s Guide to Stroke, Heart Failure, and Arrhythmias.
This review article synthesizes evidence on atrial cardiomyopathy as a unifying construct of atrial structural, architectural, contractile, and electrophysiological abnormalities that can precede atrial fibrillation (AF) and independently drive outcomes such as ischemic stroke, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and atrial arrhythmias. The key finding is the clinical paradigm shift from AF-centric disease models to atrial cardiomyopathy–based risk mechanisms, including roles for atrial fibrosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction. This framework is significant because it may enable earlier detection and more mechanism-targeted prevention strategies for stroke and heart failure beyond AF management.
Niazi M, Akram MB, Chaudhary AS et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Myocarditis imaging integration & diagnostic criteria
Multimodality Imaging in Myocarditis: Integrating Etiology, Diagnosis, and Risk Stratification.
This review synthesized evidence on multimodality cardiac imaging in myocarditis, focusing on how imaging integrates etiology, diagnosis, and risk stratification. It concluded that cardiac MRI—using parametric mapping and updated Lake Louise Criteria—improves diagnostic sensitivity and prognostic stratification, while echocardiographic strain can detect subclinical dysfunction and PET can add inflammatory information. A structured imaging integration pathway may improve clinical management of myocarditis despite limitations of nonspecific biomarkers and endomyocardial biopsy.
Debs D, Rushworth P, Liu J et al. · Current cardiology reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Congenital heart disease imaging & electrophysiology correlations
Flow-Driven Right-to-Left Shunting Through the Patent Foramen Ovale Causing Hypoxemia and Embolism in a Partial Uhl Anomaly.
This JACC Case Reports report studied a 49-year-old woman with partial Uhl anomaly and hypoxemia/embolism, using multimodality imaging to characterize right ventricular pathology and shunt physiology through a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Despite normal right-sided pressures, the authors identified a permanent right-to-left shunt predominantly driven by flow redirection associated with the congenital right-sided disease. The finding is significant because it highlights a non-pressure-dependent mechanism for PFO-mediated hypoxemia and embolic events in partial Uhl anomaly, informing diagnostic evaluation and management.
Laboratto LE, Vannoni G, Nieto G et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Beyond the usual suspects: unmasking ALCAPA in pediatric cardiomyopathy - case report.
This BMC Pediatrics case report studied a 9-year-old boy with dilated cardiomyopathy and atypical presentation during an asthma exacerbation, ultimately aiming to unmask anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA). Transthoracic echocardiography showed reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular dysfunction, severe mitral regurgitation, and additional findings consistent with the diagnostic challenge of older-child ALCAPA. The case is significant because it emphasizes that ALCAPA can present beyond infancy with misleading symptoms, underscoring the need for careful cardiac evaluation in pediatric cardiomyopathy.
Pedraza C A, Suárez F MV, Ballén-Pinilla D et al. · BMC pediatrics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
ECG Changes in Tetralogy of Fallot: Association with Right Ventricular Function, Early Age of Repair and Prematurity.
This retrospective study of 219 patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) assessed ECG abnormalities (e.g., PQ interval, QRS duration/dispersion, fragmentation, QTc/JTc, and right bundle branch block) and tested their association with CMR-derived right ventricular (RV) function, considering effects of prematurity and early repair. The key finding was that certain ECG changes were more prevalent in less mature myocardium (prematurity or early repair) and correlated with CMR measures of RV dysfunction. This is significant because it supports ECG as a practical marker of RV maladaptation and potential long-term risk in TOF patients.
Bhat M, Malm T, Nordenstam F et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pulmonary hypertension & right ventricular remodeling
Right Ventricular Adaptation after Pulmonary Endarterectomy and Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: A comparative Cardiac MRI-Based Study.
This prospective multicenter cohort study compared right ventricular (RV) hemodynamic, functional, and structural responses after pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) versus balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) in 93 patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), using cardiac MRI, right heart catheterization, exercise testing, and biomarkers. The key finding was that both interventions were associated with RV reverse remodeling, with differences in the magnitude and pattern of adaptation between PEA and BPA groups. Clinically, this helps tailor procedural selection and follow-up expectations by linking treatment type to RV recovery on CMR.
Rodenburg TC, Higuchi S, Andersen S et al. · The European respiratory journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiac masses & rare intracardiac pathology
Quantitative native T1 mapping identifies papillary muscle and intracavitary cardiac lipomas: A multiparametric CMR case series.
This case series studied two adults with cardiac lipomas—one 47-year-old woman with a papillary muscle lipoma and one 31-year-old Asian man with an intracavitary left ventricular lipoma—using conventional cardiac MRI and native T1 mapping at 1.5 T. Conventional CMR showed characteristic fat signal features, while native T1 mapping demonstrated markedly reduced T1 values (250 ms and 405 ms at 1.5 T) that helped resolve diagnostic uncertainty in anatomically complex, small lesions. Quantitative native T1 mapping may improve noninvasive differentiation of cardiac lipoma from other intracardiac masses, supporting more confident clinical decision-making.
Montatore M, Rella M, Milo M et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Hypereosinophilic endocarditis presenting with intracardiac mass and severe mitral regurgitation: a case report of FIP1L1-PDGFRA positive myeloid neoplasm.
This case report described a 28-year-old man with hypereosinophilic endocarditis presenting with an intracardiac mass attached to the mitral valve and severe mitral regurgitation, confirmed by cardiac MRI showing subendocardial fibrosis. Molecular testing of a myeloid neoplasm identified the FIP1L1-PDGFRA fusion, linking the cardiac presentation to a specific driver mutation. Identifying FIP1L1-PDGFRA in this setting is clinically significant because it supports targeted management of a potentially life-threatening eosinophilic cardiac disease.
Rao NS, Biswas A, Kothari SS et al. · European heart journal. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Isolated Cardiac Hydatid Disease Presenting as Ventricular Remodeling and Tamponade.
This JACC Case Reports report described a 16-year-old woman with isolated cardiac hydatid (Echinococcus) disease presenting with ventricular remodeling and cardiac tamponade. Multimodality imaging identified a large intact pericardial hydatid cyst with adjacent myocardial thinning, concentric hypertrophy of uninvolved left ventricular segments, active pericarditis, and tamponade physiology. The case is significant because it highlights an exceptional but life-threatening echinococcal presentation and underscores the value of comprehensive imaging for diagnosis and management.
Yousuf Q, Rashid A, Choh NA et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac amyloidosis & targeted disease-modifying therapies
Rationale and Design of CARDIO-TTRansform, a Phase 3 Trial of Eplontersen in Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy.
This Circulation: Heart Failure article describes the rationale and design of CARDIO-TTRansform, a Phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of eplontersen in transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy. The trial targets hepatocyte transthyretin (TTR) messenger RNA using an N-acetylgalactosamine ligand-conjugated antisense oligonucleotide to reduce circulating TTR, enrolling patients with histologically confirmed amyloid deposits or grade 2–3 cardiac uptake on scintigraphy without plasma cell involvement. The significance lies in establishing the evidence-generating framework for a disease-modifying RNA-targeted therapy in a progressive, fatal cardiomyopathy.
Masri A, Cappelli F, Davis MK et al. · Circulation. Heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Iron overload & chelation in cardiology
Rapid Onset of Iron Overload Cardiomyopathy in Cirrhosis.
This JACC Case Reports report described two men with cirrhosis who developed iron overload cardiomyopathy (IOC) rapidly without hereditary hemochromatosis or transfusion-dependent anemia. Both patients presented with severe new cardiomyopathy (e.g., one with LVEF 23% after previously higher function), demonstrating that IOC can emerge quickly in cirrhosis. Clinically, the cases support early consideration of iron overload as a reversible cause of heart failure in cirrhosis even when classic risk factors are absent.
Nouraee CM, Swain WH, Harmon DM et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Management of Iron Overload in Infants and Toddlers With Diamond-Blackfan Anemia Syndrome: A French-Italian Study.
This retrospective multicenter French-Italian study examined iron chelation in infants and toddlers with Diamond-Blackfan anemia syndrome (DBAS) from national registries, focusing on when chelation is initiated and which drug is used. Among 167 transfused DBAS patients screened, 64 (38%) started chelation before age 3 (median 18 months), with initiation typically based on serum ferritin ≥500 ng/mL and >10 transfusions, and the most used chelator was deferasirox. The findings are clinically significant because they provide early-life chelation data in a population where evidence has been limited, supporting safer management of early iron overload.
Torchio F, Lecalvez B, Garelli E et al. · American journal of hematology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Exercise physiology & extreme exertion cardiac effects
From Healthy to Heart Failure in 24 Hours: Defining the upper limit of exercise induced cardiac fatigue.
This single-athlete study investigated cardiac consequences of extreme exercise by assessing a former professional ultra-endurance athlete before and after 12-hour and 24-hour world-record cycling attempts using echocardiography, rest and exercise CMR, and biomarkers (BNP and cardiac troponin-I). After the 12-hour attempt the athlete was physically exhausted but showed no significant adverse cardiac findings on the reported assessments, helping define an upper limit of exercise-induced cardiac fatigue. The findings inform understanding of how far cardiac function can be stressed by prolonged endurance exercise and may guide interpretation of exercise-related biomarker and imaging changes.
Foulkes SJ, Anderson M, Janssens K et al. · Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Radiology/clinical workflow, AI, and imaging implementation
Development and validation of a versatile foundation model for cine cardiac magnetic resonance image analysis.
This study developed and validated CineMA, a multi-view convolutional transformer masked autoencoder foundation model for cine cardiac MRI analysis, pre-trained on 15 million cine CMR images from 74,916 studies and fine-tuned on eight independent datasets. CineMA achieved improved performance for downstream tasks including segmentation and landmark localisation compared with approaches requiring task-specific training from scratch. A versatile foundation model could reduce labeling burden and improve reproducibility of quantitative cine CMR measurements across clinical sites and disease applications.
Fu Y, Bai W, Yi W et al. · Communications medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Canadian radiology: 2026 update.
This article reviewed selected Canadian radiology scholarship across subspecialties and practice domains, including developments relevant to cardiac imaging and systems of care. It highlighted ongoing advances in cardiac MRI and opportunistic cardiovascular imaging research alongside updates such as guidance and referral recommendations in other imaging areas. The update provides a consolidated view of clinically relevant imaging progress and implementation considerations for radiology practice in Canada.
Kamran R, Buckley B, Costa AF et al. · Diagnostic and interventional imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Navigating the Zero Fluoroscopy Frontier: Current Tools, Evidence and Future Directions in Electrophysiology Procedures.
This narrative review summarizes current tools and evidence for “zero fluoroscopy” (ZF) electrophysiology (EP) ablation procedures, focusing on radiation-reducing techniques such as electroanatomic mapping systems, transesophageal or intracardiac echocardiography, visualizable sheaths, contact-force sensing catheters, and integration of preprocedural imaging including real-time cardiac MRI guidance. The key finding is that an expanding evidence base supports adopting ZF protocols using these technologies to reduce radiation exposure for both patients and operators. Scientifically and clinically, consolidating ZF methods can accelerate safer EP workflows and inform future research and standardization of radiation-free ablation strategies.
Kotzadamis D, Giannopoulos G, Schismenos V et al. · Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Training and credentialing in robotic general surgery.
This narrative review examined training and credentialing frameworks for robotic general surgery, focusing on how competency definitions, assessment standards, and institutional credentialing practices have not kept pace with rapid adoption of robotic platforms. The key finding is that variability across training pathways and proficiency assessment creates concerns about patient safety, equity of access, and workforce readiness. Clinically and operationally, the review highlights the need for standardized, evidence-informed credentialing and assessment systems for robotic surgery.
Harris M, Mohan H, Martins BAA et al. · International journal of colorectal disease · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Understanding the cardiology training landscape in Asia-Pacific region.
This cross-sectional survey mapped cardiology training and credentialing pathways across the Asia-Pacific region by distributing a 42-item online questionnaire to credentialed cardiologists representing 23 regions (data as of December 2023). The key finding is that all regions require specialist qualification to practise cardiology, with substantial variation in training pathway structure (e.g., proportion using a single pathway versus multiple pathways). Understanding these differences is significant for harmonizing cardiology curricula development and improving workforce planning and training equity across the region.
Cader FA, Lee WYS, Widodo WA et al. · Postgraduate medical journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Glass-box agentic-style workflow for multiclass cine cardiac magnetic resonance imaging classification with a large language model.
This study developed and evaluated a glass-box, agentic-style radiology workflow using a large language model (GPT-OSS-120B) for multiclass diagnosis of cine cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images in the Automated Cardiac Diagnosis Challenge training cohort (n=100; five diagnostic classes). Using nnU-Net segmentation at end-diastole and end-systole with extraction of 17 interpretable biomarkers, the pipeline separated perception from reasoning and quantified diagnostic accuracy/robustness across decoding temperatures and the fidelity/safety of generated narrative explanations. The work is significant because it advances auditable, biomarker-driven LLM-based CMR classification that could improve transparency and trust in AI-assisted cardiac imaging.
Mese I, Kocak B · Diagnostic and interventional radiology (Ankara, Turkey) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Fetal MRI for cardiopulmonary anomalies: what the pediatric cardiologist and surgeon need to know.
This narrative review synthesized evidence on fetal cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) as an adjunct to expert fetal echocardiography for prenatal evaluation of complex cardiopulmonary anomalies. It found that fetal CMR provides high-resolution, multiplanar imaging with superior soft-tissue contrast and a wide field of view that can add diagnostic or prognostic information when echocardiography is limited by technical or physiologic factors. The review’s framework is significant for improving prenatal counseling, delivery planning, and postnatal management for fetuses with complex congenital heart disease.
Dadoun SE, Mokha S, Kooraki S et al. · Current opinion in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Intraoperative study of afferent and efferent connections in the upper lumbar spinal cord - Part 1: Cremasteric reflex.
This intraoperative human neurophysiology study assessed the feasibility and parameters of recording the cremasteric reflex (CMR) in 15 male patients undergoing spinal surgery under general anesthesia. Electrical multipulse stimulation of the upper medial thigh produced cremasteric reflex responses in 23 of 30 cremaster muscles, with an overall recordability rate of 76%. The work is significant because it establishes practical stimulation/recording conditions for using CMR as an intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring tool.
de Melo DLM, Oliveira DRDCAB, Madureira PLDS et al. · Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Non-cardiac comorbidities, systemic biomarkers, and broader health outcomes
Dissecting the pathobiology of suspected sepsis through a comparative analysis of endothelial inflammatory and clinical prediction models.
This prospective comparative analysis evaluated whether biomarkers reflecting endothelial inflammatory pathways versus standard clinical prediction models better forecast persistent vasopressor dependence and acute kidney injury (AKI) in suspected sepsis patients recruited from emergency departments across three secondary/tertiary teaching hospitals. The key finding (as framed by the study aim) is the relative predictive utility of endothelial-inflammation biomarkers compared with routine clinical data for these two outcomes. Clinically, identifying the most informative model inputs could improve early risk stratification in sepsis and guide more targeted management to prevent vasopressor-refractory shock and AKI.
Ningthoujam AS, Thiyagarajan G, Wani NA et al. · Scientific reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pharmacological treatments for Friedreich ataxia.
This Cochrane systematic review assessed pharmacological treatments for Friedreich ataxia (FRDA), an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder affecting people typically in childhood to early adulthood and associated with cardiomyopathy and premature death. The review synthesizes evidence on which drug classes or specific medications improve neurological and systemic outcomes in FRDA, including cardiac-related morbidity. Scientifically and clinically, clarifying the effectiveness and safety of available pharmacotherapies can inform treatment decisions and highlight gaps for future FRDA drug development.
Lyons S, Kearney M, Fahey MC et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cancer type-specific variation in patterns of driver alterations across 50,000 tumors.
This Cancer Cell study analyzed 54,331 tumors from 48,179 patients across 448 histological cancer subtypes to define cancer type-specific patterns of somatic driver alterations, including 164 newly identified hotspots. It found that one-third of drivers occur in non-canonical contexts and show distinct properties such as increased subclonality, later emergence, and divergent biology, with gene fusions and other co-occurring patterns varying by cancer type. The work is significant because it refines how driver alterations should be interpreted in a tissue-context framework, improving biological understanding and potentially informing precision oncology.
Bandlamudi C, Muldoon D, de Bruijn I et al. · Cancer cell · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Pathways between climate change and HIV health in rural Kenya: a qualitative analysis.
This qualitative study interviewed 40 people living with HIV (PLHIV) enrolled in a cluster randomized clinical trial in rural Western Kenya to understand how climate change–related severe weather and food insecurity affect HIV health. Participants described perceived pathways linking extreme weather to worsening food insecurity, disruptions to smallholder farming, and downstream impacts on ART continuity and overall health. These findings highlight climate and food-system vulnerabilities as actionable determinants of HIV outcomes in rural settings and support integrating climate resilience into HIV care delivery.
Nicastro TM, Odhiambo G, Jawuoro S et al. · Scientific reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Polygenic Risk Identifies Older Adults Who May Benefit From Aspirin for the Primary Prevention of Ischemic Stroke.
This post hoc analysis of the ASPREE randomized trial evaluated whether an integrative polygenic score (iPGS) derived from >1.2 million variants could identify older adults of European ancestry (>70 years, no prior cardiovascular disease) who might benefit from daily 100-mg aspirin for primary prevention of ischemic stroke. The key finding was that iPGS stratification can distinguish a subgroup with net ischemic-stroke benefit from aspirin despite overall bleeding-risk concerns in unselected older adults. Clinically, this supports using polygenic risk stratification to personalize aspirin decisions for primary stroke prevention in the elderly.
Yu C, Hussain SM, Fransquet PD et al. · Stroke · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Selenium deficiency as potential risk factor for thyroid carcinoma: Results from a Western Algerian population.
This case-control study in a Western Algerian population measured selenium status in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and controls using total plasma selenium (total reflection X-ray fluorescence), SELENOP (ELISA), and glutathione peroxidase 3 activity. The key finding was that selenium deficiency—assessed across multiple biomarkers—was associated with increased risk of PTC. These results support selenium-related biology as a potential modifiable risk factor and motivate biomarker-informed risk assessment for thyroid cancer.
Tani LSK, Dennouni-Medjati N, Medjahedi A et al. · Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Generated automatically on May 14, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published May 07, 2026 – May 14, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.