What's New in Cardiac MRI? — June 16, 2026
AI-summarised digest of 64 PubMed articles on Cardiac MRI published in the last 7 days.
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What’s New in Cardiac MRI?
June 16, 2026 · 64 articles · 15 research themes · covering June 09, 2026 – June 16, 2026
Overview
Across this week’s set, a dominant theme is the rapid maturation of cardiac imaging—especially CMR—into a more quantitative, prognostic tool. Multiple studies focus on refining CMR-derived biomarkers (e.g., LGE granularity, segmentation uncertainty, strain workflows, and new acquisition strategies like 7T cine and free-breathing AF cine). Several papers also emphasize that “how you measure” matters: uncertainty calibration, method-specific validation (including LV/RV stroke-volume surrogates), and standardized LGE characterization are repeatedly highlighted as prerequisites for reliable risk prediction and for AI models to generalize across centers.
A second major thread is imaging-driven risk stratification in structural heart disease. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, CMR metrics (including CMR predictors of new heart failure symptoms, left atrial functional impairment, and trabecular complexity) are being used to improve prediction beyond traditional sudden-death-focused frameworks. In atrial fibrillation, higher-resolution 3D LGE improves quantification of left atrial fibrosis, while new cine methods aim to make CMR more robust in real-world AF imaging. For valve disease, multimodality approaches to aortic stenosis progression and CMR’s role in more direct post-TAVI aortic regurgitation grading underscore how imaging endpoints are being tightened for both clinical decisions and trial consistency.
Finally, several studies connect imaging biomarkers to systemic drivers and special clinical contexts—HIV immune status, endocrine disorders (primary aldosteronism and MACS), and cardiometabolic risk (including weight gain thresholds). Case reports and mechanistic work extend the imaging lens to inflammatory and infectious cardiac disease (eosinophilic syndromes, myocardial tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, hydatid disease), while acute-care and interventional studies show CMR’s practical impact on diagnosis and management. Together, the collection points toward a future where imaging is not just diagnostic, but also mechanistic, prognostic, and increasingly standardized for AI-enabled clinical translation.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Risk Prediction & Progression
Left Atrial Reservoir Strain for Predicting Progression to End-Stage in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
This cohort study analyzed 925 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) who underwent serial echocardiography to identify predictors of progression to end-stage HCM (LVEF <50% without reversible causes), with a cardiac MRI (CMR) subcohort of 491 patients. The key finding is that left atrial reservoir strain measured at baseline was used as a prognostic factor for progression to end-stage disease over a median 6.5-year follow-up. Scientifically and clinically, it suggests that CMR-derived left atrial functional impairment may help risk-stratify HCM patients for future decline in systolic function.
Kwak S, Jeong MH, Park CS et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Elite-Level Sports: A 12-Year Follow-Up Case.
This 12-year follow-up case report studied an elite athlete with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (aHCM) to assess whether long-term high-level sports participation affected cardiac morphology and apical fibrosis progression. Over ages 17–31, elite sports did not lead to adverse morphologic changes or progression of apical fibrosis, even after stopping professional sports. The case suggests that, for selected patients with aHCM, elite-level exercise may not necessarily worsen apical structural disease, highlighting the need for individualized risk assessment.
Thio Q, van Hattum J, Nijland F et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Prognostic Value of MRI-Based Left Ventricular Trabecular Complexity for Sudden Cardiac Death in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
This prospective study evaluated whether MRI-derived left ventricular (LV) trabecular complexity quantified by fractal dimension (FD) predicts sudden cardiac death (SCD) in 835 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients. The key finding was that higher LV trabecular complexity on 3T steady-state free precession (SSFP) cine imaging was associated with SCD risk and related to underlying sarcomere genetic variants (with blinded expert readers). This is clinically significant because FD-based trabecular complexity could improve early risk stratification for preventive interventions in HCM.
Zhang J, Yu M, Pu L et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Puberty-Associated Emergence of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: When Genetics Meets Growth.
This case report describes puberty-associated emergence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in a 13-year-old boy who was genotype-positive for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy but previously phenotype-negative, with phenotypic conversion occurring around adolescence. The key finding was that cardiac phenotype became apparent during growth/puberty, illustrating how developmental stage can influence timing of HCM manifestation in genetically predisposed individuals. Scientifically, it underscores the need for longitudinal surveillance of genotype-positive children through adolescence and suggests hormonal or growth-related modifiers may affect penetrance.
Mashiah G, Schamroth N, Yaeger-Yarom G et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Parameters Predict New-Onset Symptoms of Heart Failure in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
This retrospective cohort study of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) used cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging parameters to identify predictors of new-onset heart failure (HF) symptoms. CMR-derived measures were found to predict the development of HF symptoms in HCM, enabling risk stratification beyond baseline clinical assessment. These findings support using specific CMR metrics to anticipate symptomatic HF in HCM, potentially improving surveillance and guiding earlier intervention.
da Silva DS, Karlinski Vizentin V, Ferreira Felix I et al. · ESC heart failure · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Predictors of Long-Term Outcomes in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: The NHLBI HCM Registry.
This registry-based study from the NHLBI HCM Registry analyzed 2750 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy enrolled across 44 North American and European sites to improve prediction of adverse outcomes beyond existing sudden cardiac death–focused risk models. By integrating prospectively collected clinical history, imaging (including cardiac magnetic resonance), genetic data, and biomarkers, the study developed improved risk prediction for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy events. Scientifically and clinically, the approach aims to reduce both avoidable implantable cardioverter-defibrillator use and missed high-risk patients by enabling more comprehensive, event-specific risk stratification.
Kramer CM, Kolm P, DiMarco JP et al. · JAMA · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
HIV-Associated Cardiac Injury & Remodeling (CMR Biomarkers)
Association Between HIV Infection Duration and Left Ventricular Concentric Remodeling and Myocardial Fibrosis: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Cardiac MRI.
This prospective cross-sectional cardiac MRI study assessed whether HIV infection duration is associated with LV concentric remodeling and myocardial fibrosis in 83 HIV-infected participants (short-duration <5 years vs long-duration ≥5 years) and 34 matched HIV-negative controls. Using 1.5T SSFP cine and MOLLI T1 mapping, the study found that longer HIV duration correlated with worse LV structural remodeling metrics (e.g., increased LV mass-to-volume ratio and related concentric changes) and greater myocardial fibrosis burden. The scientific significance is that cardiac MRI markers may track HIV-related cardiac injury progression and help identify patients at higher risk for future cardiomyopathy.
Deng C, Sun W, Gao T et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
The association between current CD4 counts and subclinical myocardial injury by cardiac magnetic resonance in HIV: independence from cardiovascular risk factors.
This prospective study enrolled 98 people with HIV (PWH) without known cardiovascular disease and 91 Framingham Risk Score–matched non-HIV controls to test whether immune status (including current CD4 counts) is associated with subclinical myocardial injury on CMR independent of cardiovascular risk factors. In PWH, lower current CD4 counts were associated with greater CMR evidence of myocardial injury, including altered native T1/T2 mapping, higher extracellular volume fraction (ECV), and more late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), even after accounting for traditional cardiovascular risk. Clinically, CD4 count may serve as an immunologic biomarker for early cardiac injury in HIV, informing cardiovascular risk monitoring alongside antiretroviral therapy management.
Gan Y, Zhan Y, Zhang R et al. · AIDS (London, England) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Atrial Fibrillation & Atrial Myopathy (LGE/Scar/Imaging Methods)
High resolution, 3D isotropic late gadolinium enhanced imaging for the quantification of left atrial fibrosis and post-ablation scarring.
This prospective study evaluated a high-resolution isotropic 3D late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) Dixon cardiovascular magnetic resonance sequence to quantify left atrial (LA) fibrosis in 40 ablation-naïve atrial fibrillation (AF) patients (21 paroxysmal, 19 persistent) and 20 healthy controls. The key finding was that the higher spatial resolution isotropic 3D LGE approach enabled more accurate depiction and quantification of the thin LA wall, improving fibrosis/scarring assessment compared with conventional lower-resolution LGE approaches. This supports more reliable noninvasive imaging biomarkers of atrial myopathy and post-ablation scarring for AF risk stratification and treatment monitoring.
Fenski M, Hickstein R, Krüger LD et al. · European heart journal. Imaging methods and practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Aortic Stenosis & Aortic Valve Disease (Imaging Progression/Outcomes)
Aortic Stenosis Progression: Lessons from Multimodality Imaging.
This review studied the role of multimodality imaging in understanding and tracking calcific aortic stenosis progression, focusing on how different imaging modalities assess valve calcification, metabolic activity, and severity. The key finding was that combining echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, cardiac computed tomography, and nuclear imaging provides multiple “checkpoints” that may better characterize disease biology than any single modality. Scientifically and clinically, this supports using these imaging endpoints to guide research trials aimed at halting or slowing aortic stenosis progression.
Jain R, Padang R, Postalian A et al. · Mayo Clinic proceedings · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance reclassification of aortic regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: A COMPARE-TAVI 1 substudy.
This prespecified COMPARE-TAVI 1 substudy compared transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) for reclassifying aortic regurgitation (AR) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) using VARC-3 criteria. In patients randomized to Sapien 3/Sapien 3 Ultra or Myval/Myval Octacor valves, CMR reclassification provided a more direct, quantifiable assessment of regurgitant flow than the semiquantitative, operator-dependent TTE approach. The significance is that CMR may improve post-TAVI AR grading accuracy, which can affect clinical decision-making and trial endpoint consistency.
Pedersen AAU, Pedersen ALD, Mogensen NSB et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Impact of Concomitant Mitral Regurgitation in Moderate Aortic Stenosis: Assessment of Remodeling and Clinical Outcomes.
This cardiac MRI-based study analyzed 742 patients with at least moderate aortic stenosis (422 moderate AS and 320 severe AS) to determine how concomitant mitral regurgitation (MR) burden affects remodeling and clinical outcomes compared with isolated AS severity. The key finding was that MR presence and burden in moderate aortic stenosis were associated with worse cardiac remodeling and poorer clinical outcomes, aligning with the observation that symptoms can occur despite AS not meeting intervention thresholds. These data support incorporating MR assessment into risk stratification and management decisions for patients with moderate aortic stenosis.
Gabr EM, Xiao M, Saeed M et al. · JACC. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Mitral Regurgitation Quantification & AI/Echocardiography Advances
Advances in artificial intelligence for the evaluation of mitral regurgitation.
This review summarizes current artificial intelligence (AI) approaches for mitral regurgitation (MR) evaluation across the diagnostic pathway, including upstream screening and advanced multimodality imaging. The key finding is that AI tools such as digital stethoscopes and deep learning electrocardiography models are mainly enrichment strategies for early detection/risk stratification rather than standalone diagnostic replacements, with ongoing limitations in clinical integration. Clinically, this frames where AI is most actionable today (triage and population-level identification) and where further validation is required for robust MR quantification and decision-making.
Sanchez AA, Sadeghpour A, Asch FM · Current opinion in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Quantification of mitral regurgitation: from traditional methods to artificial intelligence.
This review examined how mitral regurgitation (MR) quantification has evolved from traditional echocardiographic geometric, single-frame methods to machine-learning approaches that analyze regurgitant flow throughout systole and account for eccentric or multiple non-holosystolic jets. The key finding is that AI-based MR quantification from echocardiography improves accuracy versus conventional assumptions and shows favourable agreement with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Clinically, this supports more reliable, automated MR grading—especially in complex jet morphologies where standard echocardiographic methods can be inaccurate.
Cho K, Su J, Bonnefous O et al. · Cardiovascular ultrasound · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI Methodology, Quantification, and Uncertainty/AI
Agreement between ventricular stroke volumes and great vessel flow using cine and phase-contrast MRI in healthy subjects.
This study evaluated agreement between left and right ventricular stroke volumes (LV-SV, RV-SV) derived from cine short-axis MRI and forward great-vessel flow (ascending aorta [Ao] and pulmonary artery [PA]) measured by phase-contrast MRI in 15 healthy volunteers. Bland-Altman analysis showed negative additive bias for RV compared with PA and Ao (and RV vs LV), indicating systematic disagreement among these indirect regurgitation-related surrogates. These findings support caution when using CMR-derived stroke-volume equivalences to quantify valvular regurgitation and highlight the need for method-specific validation even in healthy physiology.
Kawaguchi A, Kawaguchi W, Hayashi M et al. · Radiological physics and technology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Association of Subclinical Cardiac Remodeling With Incident Cancer in the MESA Cohort.
This analysis in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort used cardiac MRI measures of subclinical cardiac remodeling to test associations with incident cancer using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. The key finding is that specific CMR-derived remodeling metrics were associated with subsequent cancer occurrence (for overall and sex-specific cancer endpoints). This supports a potential shared pathophysiology between early cardiovascular remodeling and later malignancy risk and motivates further mechanistic and predictive validation.
Cai X, White Q, Juarez J et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Right Ventricular Strain Analysis with PET-derived Feature Tracking: Direct Comparison with Magnetic Resonance using Hybrid PET/MR.
This retrospective study compared right ventricular (RV) strain quantification using a newly developed PET feature tracking technique against magnetic resonance (MR) strain as the reference standard in 123 consecutive patients undergoing rest 13N ammonia hybrid PET/MR. The key finding is the feasibility of deriving RV global longitudinal strain (GLS) from PET feature tracking and benchmarking its performance against MR-derived strain. This is significant because it supports PET-based, potentially more accessible functional assessment of subtle RV dysfunction using hybrid imaging workflows.
Katahira M, Fukushima K, Ikeda A et al. · Journal of nuclear cardiology : official publication of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Design and Rationale of the REVEAL PET Study: A Study of 124I-evuzamitide to Diagnose Cardiac Amyloidosis.
This article presents the rationale and design of the multicenter phase 3 REVEAL PET study evaluating 124I-evuzamitide PET/CT for diagnosing cardiac amyloidosis in adults with suspected disease. The key finding is the trial’s open-label, single-arm structure and its use of a fibril-targeting radiotracer (binding hypersulfated heparan sulfate glycans across amyloid subtypes) to determine diagnostic performance. Clinically, the study design aims to establish whether 124I-evuzamitide PET/CT can improve detection of cardiac amyloidosis during real-world diagnostic workups.
Dorbala S, Maurer MS, Cuddy SAM et al. · Journal of nuclear cardiology : official publication of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Free-Breathing Dynamic, Regularized, Adaptive Cluster Optimization (DRACO) Cine Cardiac MRI in Atrial Fibrillation.
This prospective study tailored the DRACO cine cardiac MRI method for free-breathing patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and evaluated its ability to handle both cardiac and respiratory motion. The key finding is that free-breathing DRACO cine imaging at 3.0 T using bSSFP with ECG-gated segmented cine and real-time components can generate quantifiable cine data in sinus rhythm and AF populations. This is clinically significant because it may improve acquisition quality and robustness of cine CMR in AF, where conventional free-breathing approaches struggle.
Ming Z, Pogosyan A, Dong X et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Parasitically coupled 16-port massive MIMO antenna for mmWave applications.
This engineering study developed and evaluated a compact 16-port parasitically coupled massive MIMO antenna for millimetre-wave (mmWave) applications, using five triangular parasitic elements plus a triangular feed-line element and impedance matching, with a defected ground and stubs. The key finding is that the replicated 16-port design resonates at 40 GHz and is built by modifying the ground plane structure to support massive MIMO operation. This is significant for mmWave wireless systems by enabling multi-port, compact antenna designs suitable for high-capacity MIMO at 40 GHz.
Mishra B, Sharma H, Misra NK et al. · Scientific reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac function and myocardial strain analysis at 7T using B1 shimming in comparison to 3T magnetic resonance imaging.
This study compared cardiac MRI cine imaging at 7 Tesla versus 3 Tesla in ten volunteers, focusing on how B1 shimming using a single B1 shim set and B1 mapping workflow affects image quality and derived volumetric and myocardial strain parameters. The key finding was that an efficient 7T B1 shimming workflow using a single B1 phase-shim vector can enable cine imaging and allow assessment of strain/volumetric metrics despite transmit B1 heterogeneity. Scientifically and clinically, it advances feasibility of 7T cardiac MRI for quantitative strain analysis by reducing signal variation and potentially examination-time burden.
Jung B, Hundertmark M, Peters AA et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Nurses’ Clinical Decision-Making During Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Dressing Application and Removal: A Qualitative Study.
This qualitative study investigated how nurses in cancer care make clinical decisions when applying and removing peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) dressings and securement devices. Using a Think Aloud method with registered nurses from two quaternary hospital wards in Brisbane (adult and paediatric), the study identified decision-making reasoning patterns mapped to Dual Process Theory using Framework Analysis. The findings are significant for improving PICC-related practice and training by clarifying the cognitive processes nurses use during dressing application and removal.
Larsen EN, Wickins J, Marsh N et al. · Seminars in oncology nursing · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Modeling Aleatoric Uncertainty in Cardiac MRI Segmentation: Probabilistic Detection and Contour Regression.
This methodological study modeled aleatoric uncertainty in cardiac MRI segmentation to improve probabilistic detection and contour regression for left and right ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF/RVEF) biomarkers. The key finding was that explicitly estimating segmentation uncertainty at the biomarker level (variance) and calibrating it can better reflect true patient-level variability than relying only on average segmentation accuracy. This is significant for clinical reliability because calibrated uncertainty can support safer interpretation of AI-derived cardiac biomarkers for individual patients.
Zhao Y, Zhang Y, Tourais J et al. · IEEE transactions on medical imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Segmental strain in chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy: clarifying the role of multiple-comparison adjustment and the clinical interpretation of limits of agreement.
This methodological study examined how segmental LV longitudinal strain results from feature-tracking cardiac magnetic resonance (FT-CMR) and 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) in 55 patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy should be interpreted when multiple-comparison adjustment is applied. The key finding was that without explicit multiplicity correction, segment-level paired comparisons can be misleading, and limits of agreement should not be used to treat the two modalities as interchangeable for individual or longitudinal assessment. This is scientifically significant because it clarifies the statistical and clinical interpretation of strain “agreement” across CMR and echocardiography in chronic ischemic heart disease.
Malik MMUD, Jayaswal RP · Journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Clinical Importance of All the Characteristics of Late Gadolinium Enhancement from Acquisition to Expert and Artificial Intelligence Analysis: State-of-the-Art.
This state-of-the-art review studied how late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) “granularity” (location, extent, and pattern) in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) should be assessed from acquisition through expert and artificial intelligence (AI) analysis. The key finding was that clinical prognostic value of LGE depends on multiple technical factors—including contrast-media choice, acquisition parameters, and post-processing—so standardized characterization is essential for reliable interpretation and AI performance. This is scientifically significant because it provides a framework for improving risk prediction and harmonizing LGE analysis across centers and automated pipelines.
Florence J, Unger A, Gonçalves T et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Parameter-efficient adaptation of foundational models for automated myocardial strain analysis.
This engineering study investigated parameter-efficient adaptation of foundational deep learning models for automated myocardial strain analysis across imaging domains. It introduced CardiacSAM, a lightweight adaptation of the Segment Anything Model (SAM) fine-tuned with low-rank adaptation (LoRA) for cardiac structure segmentation, paired with uniGradICON for myocardial motion estimation, enabling robust cross-scanner strain estimation with minimal adaptation data. The scientific significance is that this approach can reduce the data burden and improve generalizability of automated strain measurement for clinical and research use.
Bernardo A, Mato G, Calandrelli M et al. · Biomedical physics & engineering express · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
The Feasibility of Low Contrast Dose Dual-energy CT for Quantifying Myocardial Focal Scar via Extracellular Volume Fraction.
This prospective study evaluated the feasibility of low-contrast-dose dual-energy CT (DECT) to quantify myocardial focal scar (MFS) using extracellular volume (ECV) measurements. In 33 patients with confirmed old myocardial infarction, DECT late iodine enhancement (LIE)-ECV was compared segmentally (1–16 LV segments) with CMR ECV derived from T1 mapping and with CMR late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) as the reference for MFS and remote myocardium. The key finding was that DECT-LIE-ECV can quantify focal scar in a manner that aligns with CMR-based ECV/LGE, supporting DECT as a lower-contrast alternative for scar quantification.
Chen F, Jia T, Luo L et al. · The British journal of radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Da Vinci® X™, Versius®, and Hugo™ RAS in minimally invasive robotic-assisted hysterectomy: the COMPAR-HYST prospective study.
This COMPAR-HYST prospective study compared three robotic platforms—da Vinci X™, Versius®, and Hugo™—for minimally invasive robotic-assisted hysterectomy in consecutive adult women scheduled for elective laparoscopic hysterectomy in 2024. The key finding was the relative performance and perioperative outcomes across platforms based on a composite “optimal hysterectomy” endpoint and other perioperative measures, with patients assigned by day-of-surgery availability rather than randomization. Scientifically and clinically, the results inform platform selection by providing comparative real-world evidence on feasibility and outcomes for robotic hysterectomy.
Garzon S, Landi S, Da Ros A et al. · Surgical endoscopy · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
MRI staging of haemodynamic congestion and clinical outcomes.
This study evaluated cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)–derived left ventricular filling pressure (MRI-wedge) and pulmonary blood volume index (PBVi) in patients with suspected heart failure, and assessed their links to non-invasive markers of myocardial fibrosis. Patients were stratified into four CMR haemodynamic stages (normal, isolated volume overload, isolated pressure overload, combined overload), and the MRI haemodynamic profile was associated with clinical outcomes and with fibrosis-related non-invasive measures. These findings support CMR-based haemodynamic staging (MRI-wedge and PBVi) as a prognostic framework that may better phenotype congestion physiology and fibrosis risk than conventional single-parameter assessment.
Mantini C, Sorella A, Falco D et al. · European radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Left Atrioventricular Coupling Index in Health and Disease: A Longitudinal Multicohort Analysis.
This longitudinal multicohort analysis studied the Left Atrioventricular Coupling Index (LACI)—the ratio of left atrial (LA) to left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume—in health and disease across two large datasets. The study aimed to define population-specific LACI reference thresholds and quantify how LACI relates to cardiac structure/function and adds incremental predictive value beyond established clinical and imaging markers. The significance is that LACI may provide a standardized imaging biomarker of LA–LV coupling with interpretable thresholds, potentially improving risk prediction and phenotyping of cardiovascular disease.
Roy R, Salatzki J, Szabo L et al. · Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac MRI in Acute Care & Diagnostic Impact
The correlation of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging findings with clinical diagnoses and its acute impact on management changes in a regional Australian hospital.
This retrospective single-center study evaluated how cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) changed acute diagnoses and management in 111 adult patients presenting with acute cardiovascular conditions at a regional Australian hospital in 2024. The key finding was that CMR led to significant diagnostic changes with measurable impact on management decisions, assessed by comparing pre- and post-CMR diagnoses and plans using Cohen’s kappa. The clinical significance is that CMR can meaningfully improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning in real-world acute care settings, even outside major tertiary centers.
Tan C, Thanabalasingam V, Hiskens MI et al. · Medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Estimating the Effect of Hospital Admission on Health Care Outcomes and Spending Among Persons With Dementia : A Quasi-experimental Study.
This quasi-experimental instrumental variable study used emergency-physician admission propensity as an instrument to estimate the effect of hospital admission on health care outcomes and spending among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged 66+ with dementia who visited an emergency department in 2017–2019. Hospital admission was associated with worse downstream health outcomes and increased health care spending compared with the counterfactual of not being admitted. The results highlight that care transitions via admission can have measurable harms in older adults with dementia, supporting efforts to reduce avoidable admissions and improve post-ED care pathways.
Ikesu R, Mayeda ER, McGarry K et al. · Annals of internal medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Pericardial Disease (Constrictive Pericarditis, Pericarditis, Incidental LGE)
Left ventricular strain and hemodynamic forces from cine CMR for detecting constrictive physiology in pericarditis.
This retrospective study assessed whether cine CMR-derived left ventricular strain and hemodynamic force (HDF) analysis can noninvasively distinguish constrictive physiology (CP) from non-constrictive physiology (NCP) in pericarditis. Using routine 1.5T cine images from CMR-confirmed pericarditis cases (2008–2024) and guideline-based classification, the key finding was that quantitative strain (GLS, GCS) and HDF metrics provide diagnostic value beyond largely qualitative CMR assessment. Clinically, this could improve timely recognition of CP in pericarditis and support more accurate noninvasive decision-making.
Vollbrecht TM, Proff A, Juraschitz S et al. · Insights into imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Constrictive Pericarditis and Bilateral Pleural Effusions Unmasked in an HLA-B27 Positive Patient.
This case report studied a 40-year-old HLA-B27–positive man in whom constrictive pericarditis (CP) and bilateral pleural effusions were unmasked after an initial presentation consistent with acute pericarditis. Despite an extensive negative workup aside from HLA-B27 positivity, the patient progressed to constrictive physiology, failed medical therapy, and improved after radical pericardiectomy. The report is clinically significant because it raises awareness of a potential association between HLA-B27–related inflammatory disease and CP, which may influence diagnostic consideration and management.
Villalonga M, Al-Dalakta A, El Roumi J et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Clinical significance of incidental pericardial late gadolinium enhancement on cardiac magnetic resonance.
This retrospective single-center study evaluated the clinical significance of incidentally detected pericardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients undergoing clinically indicated CMR for other reasons. Patients with incidental pericardial LGE were compared with controls without LGE to determine whether this finding reflects persistent subclinical pericardial inflammation and predicts adverse long-term outcomes. If confirmed, incidental pericardial LGE could become a clinically actionable CMR marker for identifying patients at higher risk despite the absence of a primary pericarditis indication.
Lepre V, Moretto N, De Martino M et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Thrombus, Embolism, and Thromboembolic Risk (LAA/Intracardiac Thrombi)
A simplified geometric CMR method for reproducible quantification of left ventricular thrombus volume : Left Ventricular thrombus: a standardized measurement method.
This post-hoc analysis from the COVERT-MI trial evaluated a simplified geometric cardiac MRI (CMR) method for standardized, reproducible quantification of left ventricular thrombus (LVT) volume in patients imaged 5 days after reperfusion for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The key finding is that the geometric approach was feasible and demonstrated reproducibility for LVT volume assessment. This is significant because standardized thrombus measurement can improve comparability across studies and support more reliable prognostic and treatment-related analyses of LVT.
Fuzeau A, Angoulvant D, Pucheux J et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Intramyocardial Dissecting Hematoma After Myocardial Infarction Diagnosed by Multimodality Imaging.
This case report studied a 47-year-old man with myocardial infarction who initially had a presumed left ventricular (LV) thrombus after presenting with progressive dyspnea, severe LV dysfunction, and a large LV mass. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging using a steady-state free precession cine and late gadolinium enhancement demonstrated extensive anterior transmural infarction with a dissecting intramyocardial cavity consistent with intramyocardial dissection, which progressed despite anticoagulation to cardiogenic shock and ventricular tachycardia. The multimodality imaging diagnosis is clinically significant because intramyocardial dissection can mimic LV thrombus and may require different management than anticoagulation alone.
Borg BC, Josephs C, Ghincea C et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Congenital Absence of the Left Atrial Appendage in Atrial Fibrillation With Gastrointestinal Bleeding.
This JACC Case Reports report describes a 78-year-old man with permanent atrial fibrillation and recurrent obscure gastrointestinal bleeding in whom congenital absence of the left atrial appendage (LAA) was evaluated for thromboembolism prevention strategy. Transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac MRI confirmed congenital absence of the LAA without atrial thrombus, and the case highlights the resulting implications for anticoagulation versus LAA occlusion decisions in a patient with high bleeding risk. The clinical significance is that rare LAA anatomy variants can meaningfully alter stroke-prevention planning in AF patients who cannot tolerate standard anticoagulation.
Nashtar MA, Steinmetz M, Trippe J et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Percutaneous Aspiration Thrombectomy for a Large Right Atrial Thrombus in a Critically Ill Patient.
This JACC Case Reports article presents a 52-year-old dialysis-dependent woman with type 1 diabetes and prior pancreas and kidney transplantation who developed catheter-related sepsis and a large right atrial thrombus (4×2 cm) detected by transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac MRI. The key finding was that percutaneous aspiration thrombectomy using the FlowTriever system achieved near-complete thrombus removal when surgical risk was prohibitive, with residual thrombus treated using systemic anticoagulation. Clinically, it provides evidence for a feasible interventional approach to infected right atrial thrombi in critically ill patients when standard surgery is not an option.
Nashtar MA, Steinmetz M, Schnitzbauer A et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Right Heart Disease & Pulmonary Hemodynamics (Shunts, RV Remodeling)
Impact of systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt embolization on right heart hemodynamics in patients with bronchiectasis.
This prospective interventional study evaluated right heart hemodynamic changes after embolization of systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunts (SPS) in patients with bronchiectasis, using right heart catheterization and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) when feasible. The key finding was that stroke volume, cardiac index, cardiac output, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary artery wedge pressure, and shunt oxygen saturation were assessed before and within 24–48 hours after SPS embolization to determine whether hemodynamics improve. Clinically, it supports evidence-based assessment of how SPS embolization affects pulmonary and right-heart physiology in bronchiectasis patients.
Wu H, Jiang F, Guo L et al. · Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Right Ventricular Remodeling in Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: Imaging, Arrhythmia Risk, and Timing of Pulmonary Valve Replacement.
This review studied right ventricular (RV) remodeling after repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF), focusing on imaging correlates, arrhythmia risk mechanisms, and how these findings inform timing of pulmonary valve replacement. It found that progressive RV dilatation and geometry changes driven by chronic pulmonary regurgitation, residual RV outflow obstruction, fibrosis, and electromechanical dyssynchrony create an arrhythmogenic substrate that evolves over time. The clinical significance is that integrating imaging and electrophysiologic risk markers can better guide surveillance and optimize the timing of pulmonary valve replacement to reduce long-term complications.
Fatima H, Akram MB, Sher A et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Congenital Heart Disease & Pediatric Cardiac Imaging
Current landscape of paediatric and young adult cardio-oncology care in Latin America.
This cross-sectional survey characterized the current paediatric and adolescent cardio-oncology care landscape across Latin America, focusing on healthcare workforce training, clinical infrastructure, diagnostic resources, follow-up strategies, and research capacity. The study found that implementation of paediatric/adolescent cardio-oncology programmes across the region remains poorly characterised, implying substantial variability and gaps in resources and systems of care. These findings highlight the need for region-specific capacity building and standardised follow-up and research frameworks to reduce long-term cardiovascular morbidity in childhood cancer survivors.
Stelmaszewski EV, Biancolini J, Gonzalez Ortiz A et al. · Cardiology in the young · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Evaluation of an unbalanced right dominant atrioventricular canal with a single 4D flow dataset.
This Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery case report describes preoperative imaging of an unbalanced, right-dominant atrioventricular (AV) canal in a pediatric patient using a single brief cardiac MRI 4D flow dataset. The key finding was that this streamlined 4D flow MRI approach accurately quantified ventricular volumes and AV valve sizes, enabling surgical planning. The clinical significance is that a single 4D flow acquisition may simplify and speed preoperative assessment for complex congenital heart disease to support appropriate selection of single-ventricle versus biventricular repair.
Ream S, Schoeneberg L, King W · Journal of cardiothoracic surgery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Flow-Driven Right-to-Left Shunting Through the Patent Foramen Ovale Causing Hypoxemia and Embolism in a Partial Uhl Anomaly.
This case report studied a 49-year-old woman with partial Uhl anomaly and hypoxemia/embolism to determine the mechanism of right-to-left shunting through a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Multimodality imaging showed diffuse right ventricular myocardial thinning with global systolic dysfunction and torrential functional tricuspid regurgitation, yet with normal right-sided pressures, and identified a permanent flow-driven right-to-left PFO shunt. Clinically, it highlights that non-pressure-dependent flow redirection can cause clinically significant shunting in rare congenital RV disorders, informing diagnostic evaluation of unexplained hypoxemia and embolic events.
Laboratto LE, Vannoni G, Nieto G et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Right Ventricular Apical Hypoplasia With a Novel Morphologic Presentation: The “Christmas Hat” Sign.
This case report studied a 9-year-old boy with chronic cyanosis and digital clubbing to characterize right ventricular apical hypoplasia using multimodal imaging and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). CMR demonstrated a novel compensatory morphology in which an elongated left ventricular apex projected rightward, producing a distinctive “Christmas hat” configuration. The clinical significance is that this imaging pattern may broaden recognition of congenital RV apical hypoplasia phenotypes and aid diagnosis in pediatric cyanotic heart disease.
Meléndez-Ramírez G, Patrón-Chi SA, Figueroa-Galván FS et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Cardiac Inflammation, Eosinophilic Syndromes, and Myocarditis
Loeffler Endocarditis: Multimodality Imaging of a Common Cardiac Phenotype in Distinct Hypereosinophilic Syndromes.
This JACC Case Reports report describes a 43-year-old man with hypereosinophilic syndrome (long-standing atopy and persistent eosinophilia) presenting with heart failure symptoms consistent with Loeffler endocarditis. Echocardiography showed biventricular apical thrombi and cardiac MRI confirmed ventricular thrombi with diffuse subendocardial late gadolinium enhancement consistent with fibrotic-stage disease, with rapid hematologic response after high-dose corticosteroids and anticoagulation initiated. The case highlights the clinical significance of multimodality imaging—especially CMR—for early recognition and staging of Loeffler endocarditis in distinct hypereosinophilic syndromes.
Salar T, Feitell S, Parikh V et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Lymphatic endothelial cells actively shape immune responses in the lungs.
This review summarizes experimental evidence on how pulmonary lymphatic endothelial cells actively shape immune responses in the lungs. The key finding is that lung lymphatic endothelial cells regulate inflammation and adaptive immunity through mechanisms including PAR1-mediated permeabilization of lymphatic junctions and other organ-specific signaling pathways. Scientifically, it positions lymphatic endothelial biology as an actionable regulator of immune trafficking and tissue remodeling during lung inflammation.
Rivers AK, Migues Ramirez C, Cleary SJ · Current opinion in immunology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Hydroxychloroquine-associated cardiomyopathy with nondiagnostic noninvasive evaluation: diagnostic value of endomyocardial biopsy in a case-based review.
This case-based review studied diagnostic evaluation of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)-associated cardiomyopathy in a 57-year-old woman with Sjögren’s disease treated with HCQ 400 mg daily for ~21 years (~3,000 g cumulative dose) whose noninvasive testing was nondiagnostic. The key finding was that endomyocardial biopsy provided diagnostic value when standard noninvasive investigations failed to detect or clarify HCQ-related cardiac toxicity. Scientifically and clinically, it underscores the role of myocardial tissue sampling in suspected HCQ cardiomyopathy when imaging and other noninvasive assessments are inconclusive.
Alkhatib A, Al-Kofahi M, Abumuhfouz M et al. · Rheumatology international · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Osteosarcoma in a Young Patient: When the Tumor Reaches the Heart.
This JACC Case Reports study described a 17-year-old boy with prior osteosarcoma who developed a cardiac metastasis presenting as a mobile intracardiac mass attached to the tricuspid subvalvular apparatus. Transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance with late gadolinium enhancement suggested malignancy, and surgical resection with histopathology confirmed metastatic osteosarcoma. The case is significant because it underscores that cardiac metastases from osteosarcoma, though rare, can be detected with multimodality imaging and should be considered when cardiac masses occur in patients with cancer history.
Melem IC, Baratta SJ, Gutierrez G et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Eosinophilic Cardiomyopathy in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis After Dupilumab Therapy.
This case report studied a 64-year-old man who developed eosinophilic cardiomyopathy after starting dupilumab (an IL-4Rα antagonist) for type 2 inflammatory disease, with progression toward eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). Three months after dupilumab initiation, he had marked hypereosinophilia and cardiac biomarker elevation, and endomyocardial biopsy confirmed eosinophilic myocarditis with left ventricular dysfunction on imaging. Clinically, it is significant because it documents a rare but severe eosinophilic cardiac complication temporally associated with dupilumab, supporting prompt recognition and aggressive immunosuppressive treatment when suspected.
Agredano I, Michiels V, Argacha JF et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Predicting Intramyocardial Hemorrhage Before Reperfusion in STEMI Patients With Intrinsically Explainable Artificial Intelligence.
This clinical AI study developed an explainable artificial intelligence model to predict intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH) before reperfusion in patients with STEMI. Using data from 288 patients in the MIRON-PREDICT study (252 for development, 36 for validation), the key finding was that an explainable model based on electrocardiographic, angiographic, and clinical variables can generate a bedside score to identify patients at risk of IMH prior to reperfusion. The clinical significance is that pre-reperfusion IMH risk stratification could enable earlier tailored management and improved outcome prediction.
Youssef K, Vora KP, Gupta R et al. · JACC. Advances · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Infectious Cardiac Disease (TB, Toxoplasmosis, Hydatid)
Hemorrhagic Eosinophilic Pericardial Effusion Associated With Probable Sparganosis.
This case report described a 25-year-old man with hemorrhagic eosinophilic pericardial effusion after ingesting undercooked frog meat, ultimately attributed to probable sparganosis (Spirometra species). The key finding was that despite extensive negative testing (cultures, cytology, cross-sectional imaging, cardiac MRI, PET/CT, and next-generation sequencing), serology supported sparganosis, with peripheral eosinophilia, eosinophils in pericardial fluid, and markedly elevated IgE strengthening the diagnosis. The clinical significance is that sparganosis should be considered in hemorrhagic eosinophilic pericardial effusion when standard evaluations fail to identify an alternative cause.
Zhu Y, Wang D, Wu Y et al. · International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Myocardial tuberculosis: a diagnostic challenge illustrated by two cases and review of contemporary management.
This article presented two clinical cases and a review of contemporary management of myocardial tuberculosis, an uncommon extrapulmonary tuberculosis manifestation with variable presentations. The key finding was that both patients—one with disseminated disease and one with isolated myocardial involvement—responded favourably to first-line anti-tuberculosis therapy, with one also receiving corticosteroids and therapeutic anticoagulation. The significance is that myocardial tuberculosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of cardiac disease, particularly when imaging and clinical findings are misleading or nonspecific.
Tremouilhac EM, Richaud C, Tresorier R et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Amazonian toxoplasmosis complicated by severe hypoxemic pneumonia and myopericarditis in an immunocompetent adult.
This BMC Infectious Diseases case report describes Amazonian toxoplasmosis in an immunocompetent adult that presented with severe hypoxemic pneumonia and documented myopericarditis. The key finding was that cardiac involvement (myopericarditis) occurred despite preserved immunity and was identified as part of multivisceral disease, emphasizing diagnostic difficulty when early symptoms are nonspecific. Clinically, it highlights the need to consider cardiac evaluation in severe toxoplasmosis presentations even in immunocompetent patients.
Fréville B, Herrebrecht C, Samawak C et al. · BMC infectious diseases · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Isolated Cardiac Hydatid Disease Presenting as Ventricular Remodeling and Tamponade.
This case report studied a 16-year-old woman with cardiac hydatid (Echinococcus) disease presenting with ventricular remodeling and cardiac tamponade. Imaging showed a large intact pericardial hydatid cyst with adjacent myocardial thinning, concentric hypertrophy of uninvolved LV segments, active pericarditis, and tamponade physiology, and surgery confirmed intact laminated membranes in the pericardial space. The report underscores that echinococcal pericardial involvement can produce life-threatening tamponade and secondary myocardial remodeling, emphasizing the need for early multimodality imaging recognition.
Yousuf Q, Rashid A, Choh NA et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Endocrine/Metabolic Drivers of Cardiovascular Risk (Aldosteronism, MACS, Weight Gain)
Primary Aldosteronism: CXCR4- and FAP-Targeted PET/MR for Adrenal-Cardiac Axis.
This study evaluated the adrenal-cardiac axis in 82 participants with primary aldosteronism (40: 21 aldosterone-producing adenoma and 19 idiopathic hyperaldosteronism) versus essential hypertension using CXCR4-targeted 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/MR and FAP-targeted 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET combined with cardiac MRI. The key finding was that in vivo adrenocortical activity and fibroblast activation signals (via CXCR4 and FAP imaging) were linked to myocardial remodeling features in primary aldosteronism beyond hemodynamic burden. These multimodal PET/cardiac MRI biomarkers may improve mechanistic risk stratification and guide targeted cardiovascular management in patients with primary aldosteronism.
Ding J, Wang K, Song J et al. · Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Cardiovascular effects of metyrapone treatment in patients with mild autonomous cortisol secretion: a secondary analysis.
This secondary analysis studied 15 patients with mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) before and after 12 weeks of evening metyrapone (500 mg at 6 p.m. and 250 mg at 10 p.m.) to assess blood pressure regulation, cardiac fat depots, heart function and morphology, and cardiovascular risk factors. The key finding was that cortisol-lowering with metyrapone produced measurable changes in cardiovascular parameters related to MACS, including aspects of cardiac structure/function and fat depots. Clinically, these results support metyrapone as a potential disease-modifying therapy for cardiovascular risk in MACS rather than only a biochemical intervention.
Niziolek H, Just I, Baumgartner C et al. · The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Relative importance of weight gain among cardiometabolic risk factors in the development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: An observational study using large-scale health examination data.
This retrospective cohort study of 7,687 individuals without steatotic liver disease assessed how cardiometabolic risk factors—especially obesity-related indices such as BMI and waist circumference—and 5-year weight gain predicted incident metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The key finding was that weight gain and obesity-related measures had a relative contribution to MASLD development that was quantified against other cardiometabolic risk factors, including an identified threshold of weight gain associated with increased risk. Scientifically and clinically, defining the weight-gain threshold helps target prevention strategies for MASLD in populations undergoing routine health screening.
Sahara K, Yokoyama S, Ito T et al. · Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Correlation Between Computer-Assisted Ultrasonographic Parameters and Histological Findings in Glomerular Diseases: A Multivariate Ordinal Analysis.
This study used computer-assisted renal ultrasonography and Doppler parameters (including cortical-to-liver/spleen echogenicity ratio, corticomedullary ratio, renal resistivity index, splenic resistivity index, and DI-RISK) to correlate imaging with kidney biopsy histology in patients with glomerular diseases, including lupus nephritis activity and chronicity lesions. Multivariate ordinal analysis identified significant correlations between specific ultrasound-derived indices and the severity of histological lupus nephritis components. The results suggest that standardized, computer-assisted ultrasound metrics could help non-invasively reflect biopsy-proven glomerular injury and support risk stratification in CKD.
Araújo NC, da Silveira Rioja L, Suassuna JHR · Journal of clinical ultrasound : JCU · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Exercise, Stress, and Special Clinical Contexts (Marathon/Takotsubo/COVID)
Rates, Timing and Correlates of Suicide in Norwegian Prisons: A 23-Year National Cohort Study.
This national cohort study examined suicide rates, timing, and correlates among people incarcerated in Norwegian prisons over 23 years (2000–2022) using linked registry data from the Norwegian Prison Release study (nPRIS). The key finding was the characterization of suicide mortality patterns by imprisonment timing and associations with sociodemographic, criminological, and clinical factors (details truncated in the abstract). The scientific and clinical significance is that it identifies when and for whom suicide risk is highest in correctional settings, informing targeted prevention strategies.
Bukten A, Mehlum L, Lokdam NT et al. · Archives of suicide research : official journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Inhibition of late sodium current (INa) to prevent coronary MICROvascular dysfunction in patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and multivessel disease: A phase IIb multicenter, randomized, controlled and open label study (INaMICRON).
This phase IIb multicenter randomized controlled open-label trial (INaMICRON) studied whether early inhibition of the late sodium current with ranolazine, added to guideline-directed medical therapy, can prevent residual coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) in adults with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated by successful primary PCI and having at least one significant non-culprit lesion. The key finding reported is the trial’s design and rationale: ranolazine is being tested to favorably modulate microvascular function during the early post-infarction phase. The clinical significance is that if effective, this strategy could reduce ongoing ischemia and improve recovery by targeting microvascular dysfunction rather than only epicardial revascularization.
Di Serafino L, Ciaramella L, De Rosa S et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Sinus Node Dysfunction in Takotsubo Syndrome: An Uncommon Presentation.
This case report studied a 68-year-old patient with Takotsubo syndrome to evaluate an uncommon conduction-system complication. After stress cardiomyopathy was confirmed by cardiac magnetic resonance following exclusion of obstructive coronary disease, the patient developed persistent sinus node dysfunction (SND) despite recovery of left ventricular systolic function, ultimately requiring a permanent pacemaker. The significance is that clinicians should monitor for persistent bradyarrhythmias in Takotsubo patients, even when LV function normalizes.
Zakynthinos GE, Kalogeras K, Vlachojannis GJ et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Acute effects of marathon running on the heart: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis studied healthy adults completing a road marathon to characterize acute cardiovascular effects using pre- and post-marathon quantitative data on biomarkers, morphology, and function. Across included studies, marathon running produced measurable transient cardiac changes, with the review synthesizing evidence for both physiological adaptation and potential harmful effects. Scientifically, it provides an evidence-based summary of the acute cardiac response to endurance exercise and identifies where future research should clarify mechanisms and clinical relevance.
Laily I, van Steijn N, Rizki P et al. · BMJ open sport & exercise medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗
Recurrent Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Triggered by COVID-19 Infection Complicated by Ventricular Tachycardia Arrest and Cardiogenic Shock: A Case Report.
This case report studied a 73-year-old Hispanic woman with prior Takotsubo cardiomyopathy who developed recurrent Takotsubo triggered by COVID-19 infection, complicated by ventricular tachycardia arrest and cardiogenic shock. Despite modest troponin elevation and COVID-19 positivity, the patient experienced severe hemodynamic deterioration and malignant ventricular arrhythmia in the setting of recurrent stress cardiomyopathy. The clinical significance is that COVID-19 can precipitate recurrent Takotsubo with life-threatening arrhythmias and shock, supporting heightened monitoring for high-risk presentations.
Gonzalez Alvarez RR · Cureus · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗
Generated automatically on June 16, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published June 09, 2026 – June 16, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.